Award History
NJCAA DI OTF National Awards2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Sanele Masondo was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Masondo, who hails from Kwazulu Natal, South Africa, swept the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with times of 14:28.80 and 30:26.35, respsectively. During the regular season, Masondo was ranked first nationally in the 5000 (14:01.99) and second nationally in the 10,000 (30:20.59). In NJCAA history, his 14:01.99 makes Masondo No. 3 all-time in the 5000.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Success Umukoro was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Umukoro, who hails from Nigeria, scored 22.5 points in track events at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Umukoro won the 100 meters (11.37) and was second in the 200 (23.28) while also running legs on the Texans’ victorious 4×400 (3:35.72) and runner-up 4×100 (44.44) teams. During the regular season, she clocked a 100 best of 11.29, second-fastest in the nation and =No. 8 all-time in NJCAA history.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Christopher Young was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Young, who hails from Clarendon, Jamaica, scored 32 points in field events at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to victories in the shot put (18.63m/61-1½) and javelin (63.96m/209-10) along with third-place finishes in the discus (59.68m/195-10) and hammer (55.55m/183-4). He PRed in every event except the javelin, in which his 66.98m/219-9 effort during the regular season led the nation. In NJCAA history, Young rates No. 9 all-time in the shot, No. 10 in the discus and No. 11 in the hammer.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Miracle Ailes was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Ailes, who hails from Keokuk, Iowa, scored 20 field event points at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, sweeping the high jump (1.82m/5-11½) and long jump (6.21m/20-4½). During the regular season, she led the nation in both events with marks of 1.78m/5-10 and 6.32/20-9, respectively. In NJCAA history, Ailes’ 1.82m/5-11½ is the No. 11 performance all-time.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Keith Blackwill was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Blackwill, in his 18th year as head coach at New Mexico JC, led the T-Birds to a co-team title at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. New Mexico JC won two events and placed second in six others to tally 100 points in tying South Plains (Texas). It was the first national outdoor team title for the T-Birds since 1979.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Keith Blackwill was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Blackwill, in his 18th year as head coach at New Mexico JC, led the T-Birds to the team title at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. New Mexico JC won three events and placed second in four events, scoring 130.5 points to win by 29.5 points. It was the T-Birds’ fourth national outdoor team title and first since 2019, when they won their third straight crown.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Wes Miller was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Miller, in his fourth year as assistant coach of sprints, hurdles, relays and mid-distances at South Plains (Texas), coached two relay teams to victories at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships – the 4×400 (3:03.31) and 4×800 (7:33.54). During the regular season, the Texans’ 4×800 set an NJCAA record of 7:15.66 to win the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Jeff Becker was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Becker, in his 13th year as assistant coach of mid-distances and distances at New Mexico JC, coached athletes who accumulated 50 points for the T-Birds at the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Damaris Chewon, earned runner-up finishes in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, while Carolyne Kimaiyo and Letlhogonolo Magoro each added third- and fourth-place finishes for the T-Birds.