Award History
NAIA XC Regional Awards2023 NAIA Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Cross Country season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Many of these athletes and coaches will end their season on Friday, November 17, at the 2023 NAIA Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Washington. The meet will be held at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Colten Covington — Indiana Wesleyan
Covington won the individual title at the Crossroads League Cross Country Championships in 25:10.1. Earlier this season, Covington finished sixth at the Bethel University Cross Country Invitational, among other strong performances.
MIDWEST REGION — Aidan Vorster — Dordt (Iowa)
Vorster won the individual title at the GPAC Cross Country Championships in 24:52.6. Earlier this season, Vorster posted top-10 finishes at both the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic and the Briar Cliff XC Invitational.
SOUTH REGION — Bryn Woodall — Milligan (Tenn.)
Woodall won the individual title at the AAC Cross Country Championships in 24:03.2. Earlier this season, Woodall topped the field at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge and finished top-10 at both the Royals Challenge and the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Emad Bashir-Mohammed — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Bashir-Mohammed won the individual title at the KCAC Cross Country Championships in 23:51.0. He finished no worse than eighth in any of his five races, securing three individual titles in the process (Bashir-Mohammed also won at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic and the Saint Mary Sunset Showdown).
WEST REGION — Robert Swoboda — Corban (Ore.)
Swoboda won the individual title at the CCC Cross Country Championships in 24:25.1. That was his third win of the season with others coming at the LC State Invitational and the Oak Knoll Loop Run.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — John Foss — Indiana Wesleyan
Foss, in his 36th year as head coach at Indiana Wesleyan, led the Wildcats to the team title at the Crossroads League Cross Country Championships with 19 points. Indiana Wesleyan also won the team title at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge with 40 points, Bethel Invitational with 38 points, the Roy Griak Invitational Maroon Division with 58 points and the IWU Wildcat Twilight Invitational with 18 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Nate Wolf — Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his ninth year as head coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the team title at the GPAC Cross Country Championships with 23 points. Dordt also won the team title at the Briar Cliff Invite with 46 points.
SOUTH REGION — Chris Layne — Milligan (Tenn.)
Layne, in his 25th year as head coach at Milligan (Tenn.), led the Buffaloes to the team title at the AAC Cross Country Championships with 25 points. Milligan also won the team title at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge with 42 points and Royals Challenge with 52 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Alstin Benton — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Benton, in his 11th year as head coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the KCAC Cross Country Championships with 15 points. Saint Mary also won the team title at the Brian T. Simpson Invitational with 32 points and the Saint Mary Sunset Showdown with 15 points.
WEST REGION — Ben Welch — Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 32nd year as head coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to the team title at the CCC Cross Country Championships with 48 points. Eastern Oregon also won the team title at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational with 77 points.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Haley Nieuwkoop — Cornerstone (Mich.)
Nieuwkoop won the individual title at the WHAC Cross Country Championships in 21:39.3. Earlier this season, Nieuwkoop finished runner-up at the Warrior Challenge and third at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge.
MIDWEST REGION — Jessica Kampman — Dordt (Iowa)
Kampman won the individual title at the GPAC Cross Country Championships in 21:20.0. She has finished no worse than sixth in each of her five races this season, which includes runner-up efforts at both the prestigious Griak Invitational and the Sunflower Opener.
SOUTH REGION — Ellen-Mary Kearney — Milligan (Tenn.)
Kearney won the individual title at the AAC Cross Country Championships in 20:55.6. She posted several other strong results this season, including a runner-up effort at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Reagan Hiebert — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Hiebert won the individual title at the KCAC Cross Country Championships in 21:42.4. Earlier this season, Hiebert posted runner-up finishes at both the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic and the Brian T. Simpson Invitational.
WEST REGION — Ellyse Tingelstad — College of Idaho
Tingelstad won the individual title at the CCC Cross Country Championships in 20:51.5. She captured top individual honors at two other meets this season: the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic and the CCC Preview Meet.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Quinn White — Taylor (Ind.)
White, in his 14th year as head coach at Taylor (Ind.), led the Trojans to the team title at the Crossroads League Cross Country Championships with 33 points. Taylor also won the team title at the Ray Bullock Invitational with 19 points and Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Twilight Invitational with 20 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Trevor Howard — St. Francis (Ill.)
Howard, in his first year as head coach at St. Francis (Ill.), led the Fighting Saints to the team title at the CCAC Cross Country Championships with 18 points. St. Francis also won the team title at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge with 76 points.
SOUTH REGION — Chris Layne — Milligan (Tenn.)
Layne, in his 25th year as head coach at Milligan (Tenn.), led the Buffaloes to the team title at the AAC Cross Country Championships with 17 points. Milligan also won the team title at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge with 23 points, Royals Challenge with 77 points and Eli Cramer Invitational with 15 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Alstin Benton — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Benton, in his 11th year as head coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Cross Country Championships with 16 points. Saint Mary also won the team title at the Brian T. Simpson Invitational with 28 points and Saint Mary Sunset Showdown with 15 points.
WEST REGION — Dominic Bolin — College of Idaho
Bolin, in his second year as head coach at College of Idaho, led the Coyotes to the team title at the CCC Cross Country Championships with 18 points. College of Idaho also won the team title at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic with 44 points, Lewis-Clark State Invitational with 26 points, Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational with 62 points, CCC Preview Meet with 24 points and Dr. Thad Scholes Classic with 23 points.