Award History
NCAA DIII XC Regional Awards2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country season were announced on Tuesday 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 Saturday, November 18, at the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Newville, Pennsylvania. The meet will be hosted by Dickinson College at Big Spring High School.
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
EAST REGION — Sam Acquaviva — MIT
Acquaviva won the individual title at the East Region Championships in 24:36.2. Earlier in the postseason, Acquaviva finished runner-up at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Simon Heys — Wilmington (Ohio)
Heys won the individual title at the Great Lakes Region Championships in 23:46.7. Earlier in the postseason, Heys captured top individual honors at the OAC Cross Country Championships.
METRO REGION — Peter LaRochelle — Haverford
LaRochelle won the individual title at the Metro Region Championships in 24:45.1. Earlier in the postseason, LaRochelle finished runner-up at the Centennial Conference Cross Country Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Matthew Porter — Carnegie Mellon
Porter won the individual title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships in 24:40.0. Earlier in the postseason, Porter finished runner-up at the UAA Cross Country Championships.
MIDEAST REGION — Cory Kennedy — RPI
Kennedy won the individual title at the Mideast Region Championships in 23:56.7. Earlier in the postseason, Kennedy captured top individual honors at the Liberty League Cross Country Championships.
MIDWEST REGION — Christopher Collet — Wartburg
Collet won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships in 24:09.7. Earlier in the postseason, Collet took top individual honors at the ARC Cross Country Championships.
NIAGARA REGION — Nick Andrews — SUNY Geneseo
Andrews won the individual title at the Niagara Region Championships in 24:12.6. Earlier in the postseason, Andrews finished runner-up at the SUNYAC Cross Country Championships.
NORTH REGION — Christian Patzka — UW-Whitewater
Patzka won the individual title at the North Region Championships in 24:02.0. Earlier in the postseason, Patzka took top individual honors at the WIAC Cross Country Championships.
SOUTH REGION — Frank Csorba — Lynchburg
Csorba won the individual title at the South Region Championships in 24:27.1. Earlier in the postseason, Csorba took top individual honors at the ODAC Cross Country Championships.
WEST REGION — James Settles — Colorado College
Settles won the individual title at the West Region Championships in 24:23.0. Earlier in the postseason, Settles took top individual honors at the SCAC Cross Country Championships.
Men’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION — Riley Macon – MIT
Macon, in his second year as head coach at MIT, led the Engineers to the team title at the East Region Championships with 35 points. MIT also won the team title at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships with 20 points and NCAA DIII Pre-Nationals Invitational with 71 points.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Kyle Basista — John Carroll
Basista, in his tenth year as head coach at John Carroll, led the Blue Streaks to the team title at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 69 points. John Carroll also won the team title at the OAC Cross Country Championships with 25 points.
METRO REGION — Tom Donnelly – Haverford
Donnelly, in his 49th year as head coach at Haverford, led the Fords to the team title at the Metro Region Championships with 78 points. Haverford also was runner-up at the Centennial Conference Cross Country Championships with 40 points.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Dylan Gearinger – Marywood
Gearinger, in his second year as head coach at Marywood, led the Pacers to a third-place finish at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 80 points, as all seven of his athletes earned All-Region honors. Marywood also won the Atlantic East Conference Cross Country Championships with a perfect 15 points.
MIDEAST REGION — Dusty López – Williams
Lopez, in his first year as head coach at Williams, led the Ephs to the team title at the Mideast Region Championships with 47 points. Williams also won the team title at the NESCAC Cross Country Championships with 43 points, USATF New England Cross Country Championships with 22 points, Western New England Invitational with 17 points, Purple Valley Invitational with 23 points, Little 3 Championships with 20 points and Ron Stonitsch Invitational with 22 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Matt Sinnott — North Central (Ill.)
Sinnott, in his second year as head coach at North Central (Ill.), led the Cardinals to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 49 points. North Central also won the team title at the CCIW Cross Country Championships with 16 points, CCIW Open with 15 points, Augustana Interregional Invitational with 60 points, Brissman-Lundeen Invitational with 34 points, North Central Invitational with 32 points and John Kurtt Invitational with 17 points.
NIAGARA REGION — Dan Moore — SUNY Geneseo
Moore, in his ninth year as head coach at SUNY Geneseo, led the Knights to the team title at the Niagara Region Championships with 41 points. SUNY Geneseo also won the team title at the SUNYAC Cross Country Championships with 21 points, Kara Hall Memorial Invitational with 36 points, Harry F. Anderson Invitational with 20 points and Fisher-Rodenbeck Invitational with 15 points.
NORTH REGION — Derek Stanley — UW-La Crosse
Stanley, in his 12th year as head coach at UW-La Crosse, led the Eagles to the team title at the North Region Championships with 33 points. UW-La Crosse also won the team title at the WIAC Cross Country Championships with 22 points, Jim Drews/Tori Neubauer Invitational with 32 points and Running of the Cows with 36 points.
SOUTH REGION — Jake Reed – Lynchburg
Reed, in his seventh year as head coach at Lynchburg, led the Hornets to the team title at the South Region Championships with 37 points. Lynchburg also won the team title at the ODAC Cross Country Championships with 17 points and Roanoke Invitational with 49 points.
WEST REGION — Amber Williams — Pomona-Pitzer
Williams, in her first year as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, led the Sagehens to the team title at the West Region Championships with 45 points. Pomona-Pitzer also won the team title at the SCIAC Cross Country Championships with 23 points.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION — Grace Hadley — WPI
Hadley won the individual title at the East Region Championships in 20:48.9. Earlier in the postseason, Hadley took top individual honors at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Meghan Owens — Centre
Owens won the individual title at the Great Lakes Region Championships in 20:43.0. Earlier in the postseason, Owens took top individual honors at the SAA Cross Country Championships.
METRO REGION — Dale Leonard — Ramapo
Leonard won the individual title at the Metro Region Championships in 21:41.9. Earlier in the postseason, Leonard took top individual honors at the NJAC Cross Country Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Sara Stephenson — Johns Hopkins
Stevenson won the individual title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships in 20:52.2. Earlier in the postseason, Stephenson took top individual honors at the Centennial Conference Cross Country Championships.
MIDEAST REGION — Genna Girard — Williams
Girard won the individual title at the Mideast Region Championships in 20:40.8. Earlier in the postseason, Girard took top individual honors at the NESCAC Cross Country Championships.
MIDWEST REGION — Lexi Brown — Wartburg
Brown won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships in 20:51.6. Earlier in the postseason, Brown took top individual honors at the ARC Cross Country Championships.
NIAGARA REGION — Penelope Greene — SUNY Geneseo
Greene won the individual title at the Niagara Region Championships in 20:53.8. Earlier in the postseason, Greene took top individual honors at the SUNYAC Cross Country Championships.
NORTH REGION — Fiona Smith — Saint Benedict
Smith won the individual title at the North Region Championships in 20:42.2. Earlier in the postseason, Smith took top individual honors at the MIAC Cross Country Championships.
SOUTH REGION — Kayla Werner — Lynchburg
Werner won the individual title at the South Region Championships in 21:18.6. Earlier in the postseason, Werner took top individual honors at the ODAC Cross Country Championships.
WEST REGION — Natalie Bitetti — Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Bitetti won the individual title at the West Region Championships in 21:32.8. Earlier in the postseason, Bitetti took top individual honors at the SCIAC Cross Country Championships.
Women’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION — Riley Macon – MIT
Macon, in his second year as head coach at MIT, led the Engineers to the team title at the East Region Championships with 27 points. MIT also won the team title at the NEWMAC Cross Country Championships with 35 points and Purple Valley Invitational with 23 points.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Kori Stoffregen – DePauw
Stoffregen, in his 28th year as head coach at DePauw, led the Tigers to a runner-up finish at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 90 points. DePauw also was runner-up at the NCAC Cross Country Championships with 39 points, Nike XC Town Twilight with 15 points, NCAC Preview Meet with 36 points and Franklin College Grizzly Invitational with 59 points.
METRO REGION — Justin Lindsey – TCNJ
Lindsey, in his 11th year as head coach at TCNJ, led the Lions to the team title at the Metro Region Championships with 68 points. TCNJ also won the team title at the NJAC Cross Country Championships with 50 points and Herb Lorenz Invitational with 15 points.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Bobby Van Allen — Johns Hopkins
Van Allen, in his 24th year as head coach at Johns Hopkins, led the Blue Jays to the team title at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 42 points. Johns Hopkins also won the team title at the Centennial Conference Cross Country Championships with 15 points and ECAC Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Championships with 15 points.
MIDEAST REGION — Dusty López – Williams
Lopez, in his first year as head coach at Williams, led the Ephs to the team title at the Mideast Region Championships with 61 points. Williams also won the team title at the NESCAC Cross Country Championships with 40 points, USATF New England Cross Country Championships with 22 points, Western New England Invitational with 26 points and Purple Valley Invitational with 23 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Joe Dunham — Central (Iowa)
Dunham, in his 16th year as head coach at Central (Iowa), led the Dutch to a third-place finish at the Midwest Region Championships with 84 points. Central also was runner-up at the American Rivers Conference Cross Country Championships with 37 points and won the team title at the Les Duke Invitational with 26 points and Dutch Invitational with 25 points.
NIAGARA REGION — Tyler Deck Shipley – NYU
Deck Shipley, in his third year as head coach at NYU, led the Violets to a runner-up finish at the Niagara Region Championships with 53 points. NYU also won the team title at the UAA Cross Country Championships with 34 points, Connecticut College Invitational with 36 points, Paul Short Run Brown Division with 69 points and Vassar Season Starter Invitational with 25 points.
NORTH REGION — Donna Ricks — Carleton
Ricks, in her 31st year as head coach at Carleton, led the Knights to the team title at the North Region Championships with 48 points. Carleton also won the team title at the MIAC Cross Country Championships with 25 points, Mike Woods Invitational with 50 points, Blugold Invitational with 40 points and Running of the Cows with 43 points.
SOUTH REGION — Jake Reed – Lynchburg
Reed, in his seventh year as head coach at Lynchburg, led the Hornets to the team title at the South Region Championships with 40 points. Lynchburg also won the team title at the ODAC Cross Country Championships with 22 points.
WEST REGION — Marina Muncan — Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Muncan, in her fourth year as head coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, led the Athenas to the team title at the West Region Championships with 32 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps also won the team title at the SCIAC Cross Country Championships with 19 points and NCAA DIII Pre-Nationals Invitational with 51 points.