Award History
NCAA DIII XC National Awards2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country National Awards
NEW ORLEANS — National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the season.
HISTORY: National Athletes of the Year | National Coaches of the Year
Awards were voted on by member coaches based on results from both the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Newville, Pennsylvania, and during the regular season.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Amber Williams was named the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Coach of the Year. Williams, in her first year as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, led the Sagehens to the national title at the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Newville, Pennsylvania. Pomona-Pitzer came into the NCAA Championships ranked eighth in the National Coaches’ Poll, but used pack running to reign supreme at Big Springs High School. The Sagehens put four runners in the top-25 as they beat top-ranked UW-La Crosse by one point, 158-159. Pomona-Pitzer came on strong at the end of the season, winning team titles at the SCIAC Championships as well as the West Region Championships.
The Dr. Jack Daniels Award
National Women's Coach of the Year
Donna Ricks was named the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Coach of the Year. Ricks, in her 31st year as head coach at Carleton, led the Knights to the national title at the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Newville, Pennsylvania. Carleton won a tightly-contested battle for the crown, as the top-4 teams all finished within seven points of each other. The Knights emerged victorious by three points over top-ranked NYU at Big Springs High School. Carleton was undefeated against NCAA DIII competition this season, winning team titles at the Running of the Cows, the Blugold Invitational, the Mike Woods Invitational, the MIAC Championships as well as the North Region Championships.
National Men's Athlete of the Year
Ethan Gregg was named the 2023 NCAA Division III Men’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year. Gregg, who hails from La Crosse, Wisconsin, capped a stellar season with a victory at the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Newville, Pennsylvania. He took the first mile out hard in 4:38.3 to open a sizeable lead and continued to push the pace from there, ultimately winning by 18.3 seconds. During the regular season, Gregg finished third in the Men’s College Gold Race at the Paul Short Run, took runner-up honors at the WIAC Championships and third place at the North Region Championships.
National Women's Athlete of the Year
Fiona Smith was named the 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year. Smith, who hails from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, put a stamp on an undefeated season with a victory at the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Newville, Pennsylvania. Her win was never in doubt, as she led by more than 12 seconds at the 1 mile split and poured it on from there, eventually triumphing by more than one minute in 19:54.1. Smith became the first female athlete in NCAA DIII history with a sub-20-minute mark at the NCAA Championships. During the regular season, Smith topped the podium in each of her six races, including some of the biggest meets on the NCAA DIII calendar.