Award History
NCAA DII OTF National Awards2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Member coaches voted on these honors following the conclusion of 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colorado, but considered performances throughout the season when voting on these honors.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Makanakaishe Charamba was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Charamba, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, swept the short sprints at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships and carried the baton on the runner-up 4×100 relay team. He won the 200 meters in a wind-aided 20.19, which made him the third-fastest athlete in NCAA DII history, regardless of conditions. Speaking of quick times, Charamba also clocked a wind-legal 10.15 over 100 meters at the Texas Relays back in April to become the seventh-fastest performer in NCAA DII history. Charamba starred at the SAC Outdoor Championships, too, scoring 22 points with the same combination of events that he did at the NCAA Championships, right down to the respective places.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Denisha Cartwright was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Cartwright, who hails from Nassau, Bahamas, scored 24 points at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind a victory in the 100-meter hurdles, a runner-up effort in the 200 meters, a fourth-place showing in the 100 meters and being part of the runner-up 4×100 relay. Just a few weeks earlier, Cartwright won three individual event titles and was part of a winning relay at the NSIC Outdoor Championships. Cartwright dazzled in the 100H all season long, moving up to No. 5 in NCAA DII history with a wind-legal 13.04 (twice) and then winning the NCAA title with a wind-aided 12.94.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Cordell Tinch was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Tinch, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, won both the high jump and the long jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He notched PRs in both jumps, going a wind-legal 8.16m (26-9¼) in the long jump to become the third-best performer in NCAA DII history and then 2.21m (7-3) in the high jump. Just a few weeks earlier, Tinch swept both crowns at the MIAA Outdoor Championships that included a wind-aided 8.24m (27-0½) long jump that moved him up to No. 2 on the NCAA DII all-time, all-conditions chart.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Cheyenne Williamson was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Williamson, who hails from Essexville, Michigan, had a literal field day at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She won the heptathlon with a meet-record 5861 points (more than 300 points clear of her closest pursuer) and moved up to No. 4 in NCAA DII history, topped the podium in the high jump and finished eighth in the long jump. Williamson became the only athlete in NCAA DII history to win three consecutive heptathlon titles at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Kyle Rutledge was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Rutledge, in his second year as head coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 62 points. Pittsburg State tallied 10 First Team All-America awards and two NCAA DII meet records. The Gorillas also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships after scoring a meet-record 184.5 points thanks to winning five event crowns.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Jack Hoyt was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Hoyt, in his sixth year as Director of Track & Field at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to the team title at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 66 points. Scoring in eight events, Azusa Pacific athletes won two events, finished runner-up twice and added two third-place finishes. The Cougars also won the team title at the PacWest Conference Outdoor Championships 246.5 points, winning seven events.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Jesse Miller was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Miller, in his first year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, guided the Gorillas’ jumpers to a dynamic season, highlighted by them scoring 26 points at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Cordell Tinch completed the high jump-long jump double and moved up to No. 3 in the NCAA DII history in the latter with his 8.16m (26-9¼) effort. Henry Kiner added six points to Pittsburg State’s total by finishing third in the long jump.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Andrea Blackett was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. Blackett, in her sixth year as associate head coach at Azusa Pacific, coached Cougar athletes to combine for 41 of the team’s 66 points in winning the team title at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, setting program records in both relays. Her athletes won four events at the Pacific West Outdoor Championships and earned nine All-Region honors. Three of her event groups rated top-8 in the #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 2 in the 100-meter hurdles.