2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the season.

Members coaches voted on these honors after the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships two weeks ago in Pueblo, Colorado, and considered performances throughout the season. Only USTFCCCA member schools are eligible for awards.

Information on each of the winners can be found below.

Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Isaac Prather – Concord

Prather, who hails from Summersville, West Virginia, finished sixth in the steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He ended the regular season as the region’s top-ranked athlete in the 1500 meters, steeplechase and 5000 meters. Prather stood out at the MEC Outdoor Championships when he won both the 1500 and steeplechase and was named the 2023 MEC Conference Track Athlete of the Year for his efforts.

CENTRAL REGION – Cordell Tinch – Pittsburg State

Tinch, who hails from Green Bay, Wisconsin, had a season unlike any other over the hurdles in NCAA DII history. He lowered the NCAA DII record in the 110-meter hurdles by an astonishing 0.29 seconds from 13.35 – where it had stood since last year – to 13.16 – where it stands now. Tinch originally broke the record back in April at the Cal State LA Twilight when he ran 13.32 and then skimmed over the barriers in 13.16 in the prelims of the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He added two, wind-aided sub-13 second marks during the season – 12.97 and then 12.87 to win the NCAA title, which is the fastest all-conditions mark in collegiate history and tied for the fourth-fastest all-conditions mark in world history.

EAST REGION – Tre’Sean Bouie – Assumption

Bouie, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, finished fifth in the 400 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Bouie was named the NE10 Track Athlete of the Year after breaking conference records in both the 200 meters (20.83) and 400 meters (46.35) at the conference championships and toting the baton on the winning 4×100 relay team. Bouie was a double titlist at the New England Championships.

MIDWEST REGION – Caleb Futter – Grand Valley State

Futter, who hails from New Albany, Indiana, finished fourth in the steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Futter won the event at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships in a meet-record 8:58.81.

SOUTH REGION – Jan Lukas Becker – Mississippi College

Becker, who hails from Saarbruecken, Germany, won the 10,000-meter title at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 29:47.71. He scored 20 points at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships behind victories in the steeplechase and 5000 meters.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Awet Beraki – Adams State

Beraki, who hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado, scored 18 points at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a victory in the 5000 meters and a runner-up effort in the 10,000 meters. He ended the regular season ranked second nationally in the 10,000 meters at 28:42.09 and sixth nationally in the 5000 meters at 13:50.64.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Makanakaishe Charamba – Carson-Newman

Charamba, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, swept the short sprints at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships and helped the runner-up 4×100 relay team. He went a wind-aided 10.02 in the 100 meters and followed that up with a windy 20.19 in the 200 meters. Earlier in the season, Charamba clocked a wind-legal 10.15 at the Texas Relays, which equaled the seventh-fastest performer in NCAA DII history.

WEST REGION – Leon Tafirenyika – Cal State LA

Tafirenyika, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, finished top-4 in both the 200 meters (third) and 400 meters (fourth) at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. During the regular season, Tafirenyika was named the CCAA Championships Track Athlete of the Meet after scoring 25 points thanks to winning both the 200 and 400, as well as carrying the baton on the first-place 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Ralph Casper – West Chester

Casper, who hails from York, Pennsylvania, won the shot put title and finished fifth in the discus at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Casper was named the PSAC Field Athlete of the Year after sweeping both of those at the conference championships, which included a PR in the discus of 53.67m (176-1).

CENTRAL REGION – Cordell Tinch – Pittsburg State

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 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.

EAST REGION – Jordan Davis – Southern Connecticut

Davis, who hails from Wallingford, Connecticut, finished fifth in the javelin at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He had a strong postseason, setting meet records at both the NE10 Outdoor Championships and the New England Outdoor Championships.

MIDWEST REGION – Jacob Urban – Grand Valley State

Urban, who hails from Washington, Illinois, won the hammer throw at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a PR heave of 66.05m (216-9). He jump-started his postseason with a victory in the event at the GLAC Outdoor Championships.

SOUTH REGION – Jeremiah Sims – Shorter

Sims, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, was ranked first regionally and 14th nationally in the long jump at the end of the regular season. He was crowned champion in the event at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships with a former PR of 7.52m (24-8¼). 

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Devoux Deysel – Angelo State

Deysel, who hails from Victoria, South Africa, won the javelin – and set a division record – at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He launched the implement 79.14m (259-8), which demolished his previous PR of 74.37m (244-0) from the Texas Relays.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Lloyd McCurdy – Limestone

McCurdy, who hails from Georgetown, Guyana, finished third in the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a wind-aided PR of 15.88m (52-1¼). He did a unique triple at the SAC Outdoor Championships where he won the triple jump, finished third in the long jump and placed seventh in the javelin throw for 18 team points.

WEST REGION – Aaron Worrell – Azusa Pacific

Worrell, who hails from Christ Church, Barbados, finished runner-up in the decathlon at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 7504 points. That was a massive PR for Worrell, eclipsing his previous best of 7100 points from the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg

Osanitsch, in his 18th year as head coach at Shippensburg, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the PSAC Outdoor Championships. Shippensburg amassed 176 points with 32 scoring performances from 22 different individuals in winning six events. His athletes combined for 18 All-Region performances and two qualifiers to the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State

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 DII meet records. The Gorillas also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships with a meet record of 184.5 points in winning five events.

EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut

Wallin, in his 14th year as head coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Championship with 268.5 points, winning by 136.5 points. Southern Connecticut also finished second in the all-division New England Championships. Six of his athletes qualified for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with his top athlete placing fourth in the javelin.

MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 24th year as head coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a fourth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 34.5 points as 15 of his athletes qualified for the meet. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, winning 13 events. His athletes accumulated eight top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, including No. 1 ratings in the high jump and shot put.

SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)

Morgan, in his 10th year as Director of Track & Field at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to the team title at the Gulf South Conference Championships with 241 points, winning by 50 points. Lee had a program record 16 athletes hit provisional marks this season, with two advancing to the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Flames finished the year ranked No. 1 in the South Region with 24 All-Region selections.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M

Stewart, in his sixth year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at West Texas A&M, led the Buffaloes to a runner-up finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 47 points, including a DII record of 38.70 in winning the 4×100 relay. West Texas A&M also won the team title at the Lone Star Outdoor Championships, winning eight events. His athletes combined for 13 top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, including a No. 1 rating in the 400.

SOUTHEAST REGION – David Needs – Carson-Newman

Needs, in his 26th year as Director of Track & Field at Carson-Newman, led the Eagles to a seventh-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 32 points, just 2.5 points out of fourth place. Carson-Newman had two qualifiers in the 100, 200 and 400 and won two events at the DII Championships with Makanakaishe Charamba’s sweep of the 100 and 200. The Eagles totaled nine All-American awards.

WEST REGION – Kevin LaSure – Academy of Art

LaSure, in his eighth year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Academy of Art, led the Urban Knights to a ninth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 29 points. Academy of Art qualified 10 athletes in nine events, earning All-American honors in five individual events and one relay. The Urban Knights set program records in five events, with the 4×400 team moving to No. 6 in DII history.

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Pat Mosley – West Chester

Mosley, in her 16th year as assistant coach at West Chester, coached Ralph Casper to the shot put title at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships while also adding a fifth-place finish in the discus in earning two All-American honors. Casper scored in three events at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, winning the shot put and discus and adding a fifth-place in the hammer. His shot put was a meet record.

CENTRAL REGION – Brian Allen – Missouri Southern

Allen, in his 10th year as assistant coach at Missouri Southern, coached Lions throwers to combine for 59 points at the MIAA Outdoor Championships, including titles in the all four throwing disciplines. Eight of his athletes qualified for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning five All-American honors in scoring 30 of Missouri Southern’s 34 points as the Lions finished fifth.

EAST REGION – Brian Nill – Southern Connecticut

Nill, in his eighth year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached Fighting Owl distance runners to score 48 points at the Northeast-10 Outdoor Championships, including two event champions. Two of his athletes lead the East Region in a combined three events – Jonathan Volpe (800 and 1500) and Sean Barkasy (steeplechase).

MIDWEST REGION – Matt Conly – Grand Valley State

Conly, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached six Laker throwers to combine for 24 points – including a national individual title – at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships as GVSU finished fourth as a team with 34.5 points. His throwers earned four First Team All-American honors. At the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, his Laker throwers earned 58 points as GVSU won the team title.

SOUTH REGION – Lane Fletcher – Lee (Tenn.)

Fletcher, in his first year as associate head coach at Lee (Tenn.), coached athletes to combine for 40% of the Flames’ 241 points in winning the team title at the GSC Outdoor Championships, including four event titles. One of his leading athletes, Cale Kassen, led the South Region in the 110 hurdles at 13.50 and earned All-American honors in finishing sixth at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jennifer Michel – Western Colorado

Michel, in her 17th year as assistant coach at Western Colorado, coached Mountaineer distance runners to five All-American honors at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Nine of her athletes earned All-Conference first or second team at the RMAC Outdoor Championships, including an event champion and the Outdoor Freshman of the Year.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kieran Showler-Davis – Carson-Newman

Showler-Davis, in his fourth year as associate director of Carson-Newman, coached Eagle sprinters and hurdlers to six individual entries to the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Makanakaishe Charamba, swept the 100 and 200 and ran on the runner-up 4×100 team. Two additional athletes also scored as his athletes accounted for all 32 points by Carson-Newman in finishing seventh as a team.

WEST REGION – Darrell Smith Jr. – Cal Poly Pomona

Smith, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Cal Poly Pomona, coached three Bronco hurdlers to qualify for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including double finalist Ryan Fields. His sprinters and hurdlers accounted for 109 of the team’s 311 points in winning the team title at the CCAA Outdoor Championships. Two or his event groups (110 hurdles and 400 hurdles) rated No. 2 in the #EventSquad Rankings.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Divonne Franklin – California (Pa.)

Franklin, who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sizzled the track this season over 100 meters and 200 meters. The wind-aided 11.09 that she used to win the 100 at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships is the fastest all-conditions mark in division history (Franklin also won the 200 in Pueblo, Colorado). The wind-legal 22.65 that she clocked to win the 200 at the PSAC Outdoor Championships made her the second-fastest performer in NCAA DII history. Franklin won both the 100 and 200 at the PSAC Outdoor Championships.

CENTRAL REGION – Lindsay Cunningham – Winona State

Cunningham, who hails from Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, completed the distance double at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters. She crossed the finish line in 33:55.79 in the 10,000 meters, which was the fastest mark ever recorded on a track by a female athlete on Colorado soil. During the regular season, Cunningham cracked the NCAA DII all-time charts in both the 5000 and 10,000.

EAST REGION – Nyjah Young-Bey – Franklin Pierce

Young-Bey, who hails from Montclair, New Jersey, scored 18 points at the NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind a victory in the 400 meters and a runner-up effort in the 200 meters. She set PRs in both of those events: 24.75 in the 200 and 54.51 in the 400.

MIDWEST REGION – Natalie Graber – Grand Valley State

Graber, who hails from Loogootee, Indiana, earned First-Team All-America honors in both the steeplechase (fourth place) and 5000 meters (eighth place) at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She ended the regular season ranked among the top-8 performers in the steeplechase (third), 5000 meters (sixth) and 1500 meters (seventh).

SOUTH REGION – Celine Ritter – Lee (Tenn.)

Ritter, who hails from Roesrath, Germany, won the 1500 meters and finished third in the 5000 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She scored 30 points at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships thanks to winning the 800 meters, 1500 meters and 10,000 meters – and was named GSC Runner of the Year.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Eleonora Curtabbi – West Texas A&M

Curtabbi, who hails from Turin, Italy, won the steeplechase at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, an event in which she was ranked sixth all-time in NCAA DII history with her 9:57.76 effort at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Just a few weeks earlier, Curtabbi topped the podium in both the 1500 meters and steeplechase at the LSC Outdoor Championships.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne

Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, finished top-5 in both the 100 meters (second) and 200 meters (fifth) at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She is the 11th-fastest performer in NCAA DII history in both of those events at 11.34 and 23.11, respectively, from marks that she recorded at the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational.

WEST REGION – Jaylah Walker – Azusa Pacific

Walker, who hails from Riverside, California, starred on the final day of the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 18.25 points in track events. She won the 400-meter hurdles, finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles, and helped out on the runner-up 4×400 relay and fourth-place 4×400 relay teams. Walker’s barrage of points went a long way in helping Azusa Pacific win the team title in Pueblo, Colorado.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Hannah Woelfling – Millersville

Woelfling, who hails from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, exceeded expectations at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning the discus and finishing runner-up in the hammer. She entered the meet ranked fourth nationally in the hammer and seventh in the discus, but used a PR throw of 50.91m (167-1) to win the discus. Woelfling scored 28 points at the PSAC Outdoor Championships behind victories in both the discus and hammer – the latter of which included a meet-record heave – and a runner-up effort in the shot put.

CENTRAL REGION – Auna Childress – Pittsburg State

Childress, who hails from Lawrence, Kansas, won the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with an NCAA DII record mark of 13.37m (43-10½). Earlier in the season, Childress bounded a wind-aided 13.47m (44-2½) for the third-furthest all-conditions mark in NCAA DII history. Childress scored 16 points in field events at the MIAA Outdoor Championships thanks to winning the triple jump and finishing third in the long jump.

EAST REGION – Rachel Fleischer – Southern Connecticut

Fleischer, who hails from Derby, Connecticut, was the only First-Team All-American from the East Region in field events. She finished eighth in the triple jump with a windy PR of 12.48m (40-11½). Earlier in the season, Fleischer won the triple jump at the NE10 Outdoor Championships. 

MIDWEST REGION – Cheyenne Williamson – Saginaw Valley State

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 5861 points (more than 300 points clear of her closest pursuer), topped the podium in the high jump and finished eighth in the long jump. Though it is not germane to this award, Williamson became the only athlete in NCAA DII history to win three consecutive heptathlon titles at the Outdoor Championships.

SOUTH REGION – Sierra Coward – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)

Coward, who hails from Bridgetown, Barbados, scored a staggering 26 points in field events at the Peach Belt Conference Championships. She finished runner-up in both the high jump and long jump, took third in the javelin throw and fifth in the shot put. Coward was ranked among the region’s top-6 performers in the heptathlon, javelin and long jump this season.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Maricia Spence – Angelo State

Spence, who hails from Manchester, Jamaica, finished runner-up in the heptathlon and seventh in the long jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She was dynamic at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships, scoring 28 points in field events thanks to winning both the heptathlon and long jump, in addition to a runner-up effort in the javelin.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kadidja Sangare – Carson-Newman

Sangare, who hails from Alphen Aan Den Rijn, Netherlands, was the highest finishing athlete from the region in any field event at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with her sixth-place showing in the long jump. She earned First-Team All-America honors thanks to a PR effort in that event with a leap of 6.11m (20-0½). 

WEST REGION – Marie-Jeanne Ourega – Academy of Art

Ourega, who hails from L’Haÿ-les-Roses, France, won the long jump and finished fifth in the triple jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She was either first or second in five different long jump competitions this season and soared a season best 6.46m (21-2½) to stand tall as the season ended in Pueblo, Colorado. 

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Bill Jordan – Slippery Rock

Jordan, in his first year as head coach at Slippery Rock, led The Rock to the team title at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, scoring in 19 events with top-3 finishes in 11 events. Slippery Rock had two qualifiers to the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships and had eight All-Region athletes. SRU set program records in two events – the steeplechase and hammer throw.

CENTRAL REGION – Mike Turgeon – Minnesota State

Turgeon, in his fifth year as head coach at Minnesota State, led the Mavericks to a runner-up finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 57 points and two event wins. Minnesota State amassed 18 All-American honors across 10 events. The Mavericks also won the team title at the Northern Sun Conference Outdoor Championships with 31 athletes scoring points in winning 10 events.

EAST REGION – Katie Rees – Adelphi

Rees, in her 13th year as head coach at Adelphi, led the Panthers to a third-place finish at the Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Championships with a program-record 132 points in winning four events and earning 14 medals. Adelphi had two athletes qualify for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships for region-high honors. The Panthers had 16 All-Region honors.

MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 24th year as head coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a fifth-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 35 points as 17 athletes competed. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships with 285 points, winning 10 events. It was a 23rd consecutive GLIAC title for the Lakers.

SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)

Morgan, in his 10th year as Director of Track & Field at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to the team title at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships with 276 points in winning 13 events to win by a meet-record 157 points. Lee qualified five athletes to the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, finishing 19th as a team as Celine Ritter won the 1500 in becoming the program’s first individual outdoor national champion. The Flames totaled 28 All-Region honors.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M

Stewart, in his sixth year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at West Texas A&M, led the Buffaloes to a third-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 49 points, including a national champion in the steeplechase in Eleonora Curtabbi. West Texas A&M tied for the most qualifiers to the nationals and earned 21 All-American honors. The Buffaloes also won the team title at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships, winning 11 events.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne

Paterson, in his fourth year as head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a 23rd-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the highest finish in program history. Lenoir-Rhyne also finished as runner-up in the SAC Outdoor Championships, winning six events. The Bears earned seven All-American honors, also a program high and their top athlete, Alexi Brown, was national runner-up in the 100 and earned Co-SAC Track Athlete of the Year and SAC Freshman of the Year honors. 

WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific

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 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.

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION – Brittany Hartman – Millersville

Hartman, in her 15th year as assistant coach at Millersville, coached Marauder throwers to combine for 48 of Millerville’s 113 team points at the PSAC Outdoor Championships with 11 scorers across the four throwing events. Her leading athlete, Hannah Woelfling, won the discus at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was runner-up in the hammer. Woefling was named PSAC Field Athlete of the Meet at the PSAC Championships after winning the discus and hammer and finishing second in the shot put.

CENTRAL REGION – Chris Parno – Minnesota State

Parno, in his 10th year as associate head coach at Minnesota State, coached Maverick sprinters and hurdlers to combine for 33 of the 57 team points in finishing as runner-up at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, led by the meet’s top scorer (Denisha Cartwright, 25 points). His athletes won three individual and two relay events at the NSIC Outdoor Championships, scoring 107 of the team’s 272.4 points. He was named NSIC Assistant Coach of the Year.

EAST REGION – Timothy Loehwing – Georgian Court

Loehwing, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Georgian Court, coached lion jumpers to win three titles at the CACC Outdoor Championships – Aniyah Russell (long jump), Shanae Russell (triple jump) and Julia Kirschnick (pole vault). Russell and Kirschnick each led the East Region and Rayside was No. 2 in the East Region as the triple jump group rated No. 9 in the #EventSquad Rankings.

MIDWEST REGION – Matt Conly – Grand Valley State

Conly, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached seven Laker throwers to qualify for the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where his athletes combined for 24 points and won the hammer throw. Six of his athletes earned First Team All-American honors. At the GLIAC Outdoor Championship, his throwing group scored 80 points, winning three events.

SOUTH REGION – Peter Hopfe – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)

Hopfe, in his 19th year as assistant coach at Embry-Riddle (Fla.), coached the Eagles’ Ukeyvia Beckwith to the 800 title at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His 4×400 team earned a No. 1 regional ranking. Six of his 800 runners rated among the top-20 in the South Region.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Zach Daniel – West Texas A&M

Daniel, in his first year as assistant coach at West Texas A&M, coached Buffalo distance runners to qualify in five events at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Two of his athletes combined for 21 points, with Eleonora Curtabbi winning the steeplechase and Florance Uwajaneza finishing third in the 10,000 and fourth in the 5000. His distance crew won four events at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Seandell Davis – Lenoir-Rhyne

Davis, in his fourth year as associate head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached the Bears’ Alexis Brown to a runner-up finish in the 100 at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His athletes earned seven All-American honors and nine All-Region selections in addition to winning four events at the SAC Outdoor Championships.

WEST REGION – Andrea Blackett – Azusa Pacific

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 hurdles.