Award History
NAIA ITF Regional Awards2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central and West – honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Many of these honored athletes and coaches are headed to the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships next week in Brookings, South Dakota.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Luca Santorum – Cumberlands (Ky.)
Santorum, who hails from Rome, Italy, has the fastest non-converted 1000-meter and mile time in the nation this season at 4:01:33 OT and 2:23.87, respectively. His time of 2:23.87 in the 1000 is an all-time, all-conditions NAIA best. Santorum was named the Mid-South Conference Athlete of the Year and Mid-South Conference Freshman of the Year.
MIDWEST REGION – Payton Mauldin – Dordt (Iowa)
Mauldin, who hails from George, Iowa, is ranked first nationally in both the 400 meters (46.99) and 600 meters (1:17.00 OT), and sits second in the 800 meters (1:50.29 OT). He won GPAC crowns in both the 400 and 800 and was named Athlete of the Meet. Mauldin was named NAIA National Athlete of the Week twice and GPAC Athlete of the Week three other times.
SOUTH REGION – Will Stockley – Milligan (Tenn.)
Stockley, who hails from Trowbridge, England, is ranked third nationally in both the mile (4:07.04 OT) and the 3000 meters (8:11.35c). He was named the AAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 1000 meters and mile at the AAC Indoor Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Luis Perez – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Perez, who hails from Liberty, Missouri, has five qualifying standards for the NAIA Indoor Championships: four A standards in the 1000 meters, mile, 4×800 relay and distance medley relay; one B standard in the 800 meters. He won the 1000 at the KCAC Indoor Championships in a meet-record time and PR’d in that event earlier in this season in 2:27.13 OT.
WEST REGION – Hunter Nichols – Eastern Oregon
Nichols, who hails from Heppner, Oregon, hit at least one qualifying mark for the NAIA Indoor Championships at every meet this season. In total, Nichols has two A qualifiers in the 1000 meters and 3000 meters, as well as two B standards in the 800 meters and mile. Nichols ran 8:18.05 OT in the 3000 meters to break a school record formerly held by Isaac Updike.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Isaiah Tipping – Marian (Ind.)
Tipping, who hails from Indianapolis, Indiana, is ranked first nationally in the weight throw at 21.35m (70-0½), a mark that doubles as the fifth-best heave in NAIA history. He also qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships in the shot put with a mark of 15.37m (50-5¼).
MIDWEST REGION – Robert Atwater – Midland (Neb.)
Atwater, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, is the national leader in the heptathlon by more than 100 points with his 5117-point score. He is also ranked fourth nationally in the high jump, sixth nationally in the long jump and among the top-20 athletes in the pole vault. Atwater amassed 23.5 points in field events at the GPAC Indoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Jeffery Usman – William Carey (Miss.)
Usman, who hails from Nigeria, is ranked second nationally in the long jump at 7.43m (24-4½). He is also rated highly among regional athletes in the triple jump at 14.17m (46-6).
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Mikkel Tarver – Friends (Kan.)
Tarver, who hails from Fort Worth, Texas, scored 24 points in field events at the KCAC Indoor Championships and was named the Field Athlete of the Meet. He swept the horizontal jumps and set a conference championship record in the triple jump at 14.57m (47-9¾).
WEST REGION – Judson Mansfield – Eastern Oregon
Mansfield, who hails from Washougal, Washington, is ranked second nationally in the heptathlon with 4960 points. He posted that high score in a winning effort at the EOU Last Chance Indoor Meet and notched PRs in both the long jump and pole vault.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Mike Holman – Marian (Ind.)
Holman, in his 12th year as Director of Track & Field at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with a school-record 153.5 points. Marian won seven events at the Crossroads League Championships and had two No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings (shot put and weight throw).
MIDWEST REGION – Craig Heynen – Dordt (Iowa)
Heynen, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to a No. 1 ranking in the Midwest Region and No. 2 nationally. Dordt, which set nine school records this season, was runner-up in the GPAC Indoor Championships and had two No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings (600 and 800).
SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)
Dodson, in his sixth year as Director of Track & Field at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the team title at The Sun Conference Indoor Championships with 313 points. Southeastern, which won 10 conference events and broke eight conference records, had two No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings (200 and 400).
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Henry Brun – Friends (Kan.)
Brun, in his fifth year as Director of Track & Field at Friends (Kan.), led the Falcons to the team title at the KCAC Indoor Championships, winning seven events and sweeping the top-3 in the long jump and weight throw. He was named KCAC Coach of the Year as Friends had two top-10 #EventSquad rankings (pole vault and shot put).
WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 33rd year as Head Coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to a No. 1 ranking in the West Region and No. 10 nationally. Eastern Oregon compiled 14 national qualifiers and had five Top-10 #EventSquad rankings, led by a No. 3 in the 3000 meters.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Anthony Thompson – Campbellsville (Ky.)
Thompson, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Campbellsville (Ky.), coached eight athletes to national qualifying marks in five events. Five of his event groups rated Top-10 in the national #EventSquad rankings, with four in the Top-5: No. 1 triple jump, No. 2 heptathlon, No. 3 long jump and No. 4 high jump.
MIDWEST REGION – Nate Wolf – Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Dordt (Iowa), coached the No. 1 ranked athlete in the Midwest Region in seven events – 800, 1000, mile, 3000, 5000, 4×800 relay and distance medley relay. His athletes scored 92 of the team’s 167 points at the GPAC Indoor Championships and claimed the No. 1 national #EventSquad ranking in the 800 along with being No. 2 in the 1000.
SOUTH REGION – Malcolm Dias – William Carey (Miss.)
Dias, in his ninth year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached eight athletes to national qualifying marks, led by the No. 1-rated 60-meter sprinter. His sprint groups rated among the Top-6 national #EventSquad rankings in three events, topped by a No. 3 showing the 60.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Nolan Ryan – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Ryan, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), coached athletes who scored 109 points at the KCAC Indoor Championships, winning three events. His middle-distance and distance runners racked up five Top-10 national #EventSquad rankings, with three in the Top-5 – 800 No. 3, mile No. 4, 3000 No. 4.
WEST REGION – Connor Bracken – Eastern Oregon
Bracken, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Eastern Oregon, coached eight athletes in eight events to national qualifying marks (200, 400, 600, 60 hurdles, high jump, heptathlon, 4×400 relay and distance medley relay). His 60-meter hurdle crew rated No. 10 in the national #EventSquad rankings.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Lisa Voyles – Indiana Tech
Voyles, who hails from Danville, Kentucky, is ranked first nationally in both the 1000 meters (2:50.67f) and mile (4:50.44 OT) and among the top-5 athletes nationally in both the 3000 meters and 600 meters, where she is third and fourth, respectively. Voyles won the 1000 and anchored Indiana Tech’s 4×800 relay team to victory at the WHAC Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Hannah Antkoviak – Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Antkoviak, who hails from Allegan, Michigan, is ranked first nationally in the 600 meters at 1:31.65, a mark that only two women in NAIA history ran faster since 2011 (Helen Crofts and Addy Wiley). The ONU standout is also ranked third nationally in the 400 meters at 54.17 OT and anchors the nation’s second-fastest 4×400 relay squad.
SOUTH REGION – Ellen-Mary Kearney – Milligan (Tenn.)
Kearney, who hails from Wirral, United Kingdom, is ranked among the national top-10 in five individual events, including top-3 efforts in both the 3000 meters (9:48.24) and mile (4:55.08 OT). She won AAC titles in the 800 meters, 1000 meters and mile, and was named the AAC Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year for her efforts.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Reagan Hiebert – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Hiebert, who hails from Eudora, Kansas, qualified for the NAIA Indoor Championships with A standards in the 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and as part of the distance medley relay squad. She amassed 30 points at the KCAC Indoor Championships with victories in the mile, 3000 meters and 5000 meters and set meet records in both longer distance events.
WEST REGION – Abbey Shirts – College of Idaho
Shirts, who hails from Weiser, Idaho, hit four A standards for the NAIA Indoor Championships, including national top-10 efforts in the 1000 meters (third, 2:54.62c) and mile (ninth, 5:00.35c). She also anchors the nation’s fourth-fastest distance medley relay squad.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Erica Xayarath – Huntington (Ind.)
Xayarath, who hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana, was named the Crossroads League MVP of the Championships Meet. She scored 26 points in field events behind a victory in the long jump and runner-up finishes in both the high jump and triple jump. Xayarath set a PR in the long jump of 5.81m (19-0¾) to win the event title at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Kaitlyn McColly – Dickinson State (N.D.)
McColly, who hails from Hinsdale, Montana, scored 32 points in field events at the North Star Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, winning the pentathlon and triple jump, while placing third in both the high jump and long jump. Her 3777-point score in pentathlon not only gives her the national lead, but a 186-point buffer on the second-ranked athlete.
SOUTH REGION – Machaeda Linton – William Carey (Miss.)
Linton, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, is the national leader in both the long jump and triple jump. She recorded both of her PRs – 5.99m (19-8) in the long jump and 12.71m (41-8½) in the triple jump – at the Commodore Classic. Not long ago, Linton swept the horizontal jumps at the SSAC Indoor Championships.to lead William Carey to a conference title.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Renee Finke – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Finke, who hails from Montgomery City, Missouri, is ranked second nationally in the pentathlon with 3591 points and third nationally in the high jump at 1.73m (5-8). She was named the Heart Conference Field Athlete of the Meet after winning the pentathlon and high jump at the Indoor Championships with conference and school records in both events.
WEST REGION – Lizzy Grandle – Eastern Oregon
Grandle, who hails from Molalla, Oregon, is ranked among the top-10 athletes nationally in the pentathlon and high jump. In her only pentathlon of the season, Grandle amassed 3333 points to slot in at No. 6 on the seasonal Descender Order List.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Doug Edgar – Indiana Tech
Edgar, in his 15th year as Head Coach at Indiana Tech, led the Warriors to the team title at the WHAC Indoor Championships with 190 points, winning 10 events. He was named WHAC Coach of the Year as Indiana Tech maintained the No. 1 position all season in the national TFRI.
MIDWEST REGION – Matt Beisel – Concordia (Neb.)
Beisel, in his eighth year as Head Coach at Concordia (Neb.), led the Bulldogs to the team title at the GPAC Indoor Championships with 206 points, winning six events. Concordia, which amassed 26 national qualifying marks, has Top-10 national #EventSquad rankings in 10 events and is ranked No. 2 in the national TFRI.
SOUTH REGION – Ryan McKenzie – William Carey (Miss.)
McKenzie, in his second year as Head Coach at William Carey (Miss.), led the Crusaders to the team title at the SSAC Indoor Championships, scoring 284 points to win by a record 101 points. William Carey, ranked No. 2 in the national TFRI, won 13 conference titles and rates No. 1 in the national #EventSquad rankings in four events – 60, 200, long jump and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Kenny Anderson – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Anderson, in his fourth year as Director of Track & Field at Central Methodist (Mo.), led the Eagles to a third-place finish in The Heart of America Conference Indoor Championships, winning seven events. Central Methodist rates Top-5 in the national #EventSquad rankings in five events, led by a No. 1 in the high jump.
WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 33rd year as Head Coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to a No. 1 ranking in the West Region TFRI. East Oregon has rates in the Top-10 national #EventSquad rankings in three events, led by a No. 2 in the pentathlon.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Quinn White – Taylor (Ind.)
White, in his 14th year as assistant coach at Taylor (Ind.), coached athletes to three wins in the Crossroads League Indoor Championships, setting two meet records. His middle-distance and distance groups rate Top-10 in the national #EventSquad rankings in three events, led by a No. 2 in the 3000.
MIDWEST REGION – Zontavius Johnson – Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Johnson, in his second year at Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), coached athletes who scored 106 of the Tigers’ 244 points in winning the CCAC Indoor Championships, breaking two meet records. His athletes top-3 nationally in three events, led by national 600 leader Hannah Antkoviak. Three of his crews rank Top-4 in the national #EventSquad rankings, led by a No. 3 in the 400.
SOUTH REGION – Malcolm Dias – William Carey (Miss.)
Dias, in his ninth year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached the nation’s two fastest 60-meter hurdlers in Salieci Myles and Joy Abu. His sprinters and hurdlers are No. 1 in two events (60 and 60 hurdles) in the national #EventSquad rankings, with the 200 and 400 groups rating No. 2.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Dylan Biedron – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Biedron, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), coached athletes who scored 41 points at the KCAC Indoor Championships, setting one meet record. Three of his sprinters were finalists in the 60 and 200 meters, while his 4×400 team earned third place.
WEST REGION – Kurtis Bonner – Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
Bonner, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Lewis-Clark State (Idaho), coached Sydnie Zywina to school-record performances in the long jump and triple jump. In addition, Jennah Carpenter leads the West Region in the high jump and has also qualified for the nationals in the pentathlon.