2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the four regions – Atlantic, Central, Midwest and West – honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches prior to the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Karim Belmahdi – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Belmahdi, a sophomore from Chlef, Algeria, is the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Atlantic Region. He qualified in five events for the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including the steeplechase where he is ranked fourth nationally at 9:10.11. Belmahdi also ranks among the national leaders in the 1500 meters (3:49.86) and the 800 meters (1:50.01). He shattered the school record in the 5000 meters with a time of 14:36.84. 

CENTRAL REGION – Nazzio John – Butler (Kan.) CC

John, a sophomore from El Dorado, is the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Central Region. He won two individual titles at the Region VI Championships: 100 meters in 9.96 and the 200 meters in 20.10. John also toted the baton on the winning 4×100 relay and the third-place 4×400 relay. He was named Athlete of the Meet for his efforts.

MIDWEST REGION – Rivaldo Marshall – Indian Hills (Iowa) CC

Marshall, a freshman from Kingston, Jamaica, is the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region. His best performance came in the 800 meters at the NJCAA Region XI/ICCAC Outdoor Championships, where he shattered the meet record and clocked the eighth-fastest time in NJCAA history of 1:47.35. Marshall also helped IHCC’s 4×400 relay turn in the nation’s second-fastest mark of the season at 3:06.30.

WEST REGION – James Dadzie – Western Texas

Dadzie, a freshman from Accra, Ghana, is the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the West Region. He had exceptional performances throughout the season, running an NJCAA all-time, all-conditions best of 9.89 in the 100 meters and breaking the NJCAA record in the 200 meters with a wind-legal time of 19.79. Both of those marks came at the Corky/Crofoot Shootout.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Olegos Kozjakovs – Vincennes (Ind.)

Kozjakovs, a freshman from Riga, Latvia, is the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Atlantic Region. He excelled in multiple events, ranking first in the region and sixth nationally in the pole vault with a height of 4.61m (15-1¾). Kozjakovs also claimed top marks regionally in the decathlon, javelin and shot put.

CENTRAL REGION – Christopher Young – Barton (Kan.) CC

Young, a freshman from Clarendon, Jamaica, is the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Central Region. He currently holds impressive rankings in multiple events, sitting at No. 1 nationally in the javelin, No. 2 in the shot put, No. 3 in the discus, and No. 5 in the hammer. Young showcased his talent at the NJCAA Region VI Championships, earning the High Point Athlete of the Meet title after contributing 30 points to his team’s total.

MIDWEST REGION – Waukeem Walters – Iowa Central CC

Walters, a freshman from St. Catherine, Jamaica, is the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region. He achieved a distance of 15.14m (49-8¼) in the triple jump, which ranks him second nationally. Walters also starred in the long jump as he soared 7.51m (24-7¾) to be the seventh-best performer on the NJCAA DI Descending Order List.

WEST REGION – Kudakwashe Chadenga – South Plains (Texas)

Chadenga, a sophomore from Zimbabwe, is the Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the West Region. He is the top-ranked high jumper in the nation at 2.26m (7-5). Chadenga secured a third-place finish overall at the prestigious Texas Relays and attained a second-place finish among collegians.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Marty Rogier – Vincennes (Ind.)

Rogier, the head coach at Vincennes (Ind.), is the Men’s Coach of the Year for the Atlantic Region. His team ranks first in the region and has achieved impressive national rankings, including sixth in the 400m and pole vault, and eighth in the 200m and steeplechase events.

CENTRAL REGION – David Schenek – Barton (Kan.) CC

Schenek, the head coach at Barton (Kan.) CC, is the Men’s Coach of the Year for the Central Region. Under his guidance, the team is currently ranked fourth in the nation and holds the highest ranking among Region VI teams. The Cougars clinched the Region VI Championships and boast an impressive 27 national qualifiers, including a national leader in the javelin event. 

MIDWEST REGION – Dee Brown – Iowa Central CC

Brown, the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Iowa Central CC, is the Men’s Coach of the Year for the Midwest Region. His team ranks first in the region and sixth nationally, with six top-5 national rankings. 

WEST REGION – Erik Vance – South Plains (Texas)

Vance, the head coach at South Plains (Texas), is the Men’s Coach of the Year for the West Region. His team ranks first in the nation and has achieved remarkable success in multiple events, including the 110mH, 400mH, 800m, 4×800 relay, high jump and decathlon. The 4×800 relay team set a new national and meet record at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays with a time of 7:15.66. 

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Charez Weste – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Weste, in her first year as assistant coach at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), is the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Atlantic Region. She coached runners who achieved top-5 spots in the Atlantic Region in nine events, the most in the region. Weste’s guidance has helped six athletes attain the No. 1 ranking in the region, also the highest in the region. Additionally, she has contributed to the qualification of five athletes in the 800m, 1500m, 4×400 and 4×800.

CENTRAL REGION – DJ Lilley – Coffeyville (Kan.) CC

Lilley, in his second year as assistant coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) CC, is the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Central Region. He coached jumpers who played a vital role in the team’s third-place finish at the Region VI Championships. In the long jump, Lilley’s jumpers secured first, second and fourth place, while in the triple jump they finished first and second. Currently, his jumpers are ranked first, seventh and ninth in the long jump, and second, third and 17th in the triple jump.

MIDWEST REGION – Jonathan Alexis – Iowa Central CC

Alexis, in his third year as assistant coach at Iowa Central CC, is the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Midwest Region. He coached Triton sprinters to second, third and fourth place in the 100m and first in the 4×100 relay at the Region XI Championships. In the 110m hurdles, his athletes secured first, fourth and seventh places while his pole vaulters finished first and second. Additionally, his athletes have excelled in the long jump, triple jump, and decathlon events. 

WEST REGION – Wes Miller – South Plains (Texas)

Miller, in his fourth year as assistant coach at South Plains (Texas), is the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the West Region. He coached three Texan athletes and one relay team to No. 1 national rankings. The team also ranks second and third nationally in the 4x400m and 4x100m events, respectively. A total of 10 his athletes rank in the top eight nationally in individual events. Miller’s athletes combined for 23 individual national qualifying marks.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Zothile Mbhamali – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Mbhamali, who hails from Soweto, South Africa, is the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Atlantic Region. She showcased her talents in multiple events, qualifying for the NJCAA DI Outdoor Championships in three events. Her best performance came in the 10,000 meters, where she recorded a time of 40:14.27. Additionally, Mbhamali leads the region in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:54.96.

CENTRAL REGION – Lucy Ndungu – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Ndungu, a sophomore from Bridgeton, Missouri, is the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Central Region. She showcased her regional dominance by claiming victories in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters at the Region VI Outdoor Championships, as well as a runner-up effort in the 1500 meters. Her outstanding performances earned her the title of Region VI Track Athlete of the Meet. Ndungu ranks among the top-3 nationally in all three events, headlined by her 38:17.21 effort over 10,000 meters that places her second among seasonal performers.

MIDWEST REGION – Ethel Amissah – Iowa Western CC

Amissah, a freshman from Burma Camp, Ghana, is the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region. She displayed her versatility and speed by winning both the 200 meters and 400 meters at the Region XI Outdoor Championships, in addition to placing fourth in the 100 meters. Her winning mark of 54.38 in the 400 at the Region XI Outdoor Championships places her fifth on the NJCAA DI seasonal chart.

WEST REGION – Letlhogonolo Magoro – New Mexico JC

Magoro, a sophomore from Pretoria, South Africa, is the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the West Region. She excelled in the 800 meters and 1500 meters, ranking as the national leader in both with marks of 2:09.16 and 4:31.39, respectively. Magoro also contributed to the success of the national-leading 4x800m relay team.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Alyssa Dyett – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Dyett, a freshman from Antigua, is the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Atlantic Region. She displayed exceptional talent in the triple jump, ranking as the regional leader and seventh nationally at 11.89m (39-0¼).  Additionally, Dyett showcased her skills in the long jump, ranking fourth regionally at 5.03m (16-6).

CENTRAL REGION – Vanessa Mercera – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Mercera, a sophomore from Willemstad, Curacao, is the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Central Region. She demonstrated her versatility and excellence in multiple events, claiming victories at the Region VI Outdoor Championships in both the heptathlon and high jump, en route to scoring 26.5 points at the meet. Mercera is ranked third nationally in both events with 4792 points in the heptathlon and a clearance of 1.72m (5-7¾) in the high jump. 

MIDWEST REGION – Miracle Ailes – Iowa Western CC

Ailes, a sophomore from Keokuk, Iowa, is the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region. She tops the NJCAA DI Descending Order List in both the high jump and long jump at 1.81m (6-1½) and 6.32m (20-9), respectively. Ailes won both events at the NJCAA Region XI/ICAAC Outdoor Championships and placed top-3 in the high jump at both the Drake Relays and the Kansas Relays.

WEST REGION – Aaliyah Lindsay – New Mexico JC

Lindsay, a sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica, is the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the West Region. She is the national leader in the triple jump at a wind-aided 12.62m (41-5) and sits fourth nationally in the long jump at a wind-aided 6.11m (20-0½). 

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Shirvon Greene – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Greene, in his first year as head coach at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), is the Women’s Coach of the Year for the Atlantic Region. Under his guidance, Mustang runners achieved top-5 spots in the Atlantic Region in thirteen events, the most in the region. Additionally, four of his athletes hold the No. 1 ranking in the region. On the national level, five of his athletes qualified and achieved top-15 rankings in six events for the NJCAA Division I Outdoor Championships, including the 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, 4×400 and triple jump.

CENTRAL REGION – Drew Mahin – Cloud County (Kan.) CC

Mahin, in his 10th year as head coach at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, is the Women’s Coach of the Year for the Central Region. His Thunderbirds secured a second-place finish at the Region VI Championships with 12 individual and relay champions as well as 15 other top-8 performances. Mahin also coached the Region VI Track Athlete of the Meet and Field Athlete of the Meet. Impressively, 13 individuals and three relays from his team have qualified for nationals, and 15 marks rank in the top-10 in the NJCAA this season. 

MIDWEST REGION – Marc Bierbaum – Iowa Western CC

Bierbaum, in his fifth year as Director of Cross Country/Track & Field at Iowa Western CC, is the Women’s Coach of the Year for the Midwest Region. His athletes contributed 73 points to the team’s title at the Region XI Championships, including 13 event champions. Reiver athletes have qualified for nationals in events such as the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, steeplechase and 4x800m relay

WEST REGION – Keith Blackwill – New Mexico JC

Blackwill, in his 18th year as head coach at New Mexico JC, is the Women’s Coach of the Year for the West Region. His Thunderbirds were ranked No. 1 nationally all year. Individually, his athletes have qualified for nationals in four events, including Aaliyah Lindsay, who holds the No. 1 national ranking in the triple jump. 

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Charez Weste – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)

Weste, in her first year as assistant coach at Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.), is the Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Atlantic Region. She coached athletes to top-5 spots in the region in eight events. For of her Mustangs qualified for the NJCAA Outdoor Championships with top-15 rankings across four events – 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m.

CENTRAL REGION – Emmanuel Dixon – Barton (Kan.) CC

Dixon, in his second year as assistant coach at Barton (Kan.) CC, is the Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Central Region. His athletes contributed 67 points to the Cougars’ total of 183.5 points in winning the Region VI Championships team title – 60.5 points coming from his group of jumpers. His sprinters were led by Oarabile Tshosa, won the Region VI 100 title and anchored the winning 4×100 team. Overall, 13 of his athletes qualified for the nationals.

MIDWEST REGION – Mark Evans – Southwestern (Iowa) CC

Evans, in his eighth year as assistant coach at Southwestern (Iowa) CC, is the Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the Midwest Region. He coached national qualifiers in the shot put, hammer throw, and javelin, while also helping athletes achieve school records in the same events. The Spartans’ throwers rank highly in the USTFCCCA #EventSquad Rankings, placing 4th in javelin, 5th in discus, and 12th in shot put.

WEST REGION – Jeff Becker – New Mexico JC

Becker, in his 13th year as assistant coach at New Mexico JC, is the Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the West Region. Six of his athletes have qualified in 11 events, including four national leading marks. Notably, Letlhogonolo Magoro holds the national lead in the 800m and 1500m, while Damaris Chewon is fastest in the 10,000m. The T-Birds own No. 1 #EventSquad Rankings in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m.