Award History
NCAA DI ITF Regional Awards2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender’s 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 following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Adam Spencer – Wisconsin
Spencer, who hails from Melbourne, Australia, finished runner-up in the mile at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. During the regular season, Spencer won the mile – and anchored the winning distance medley relay – at the B1G Indoor Championships. He came into the postseason with the nation’s fourth-fastest mile at 3:52.70, a mark that he ran at the 116th NYRR Millrose Games to finish as the top collegian in the field.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Cheickna Traore – Penn State
Traore, who hails from Linden, New Jersey, finished runner-up in the 200 meters at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. That was a continuation of a strong postseason for Traore, as he completed the 60-200 double at the B1G Indoor Championships and added a leg on the winning 4×400 relay. He was named B1G Track Athlete of the Championship.
MIDWEST REGION – Rivaldo Marshall – Iowa
Marshall, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, won the 800-meter title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Marshall set a program record in the 800 with his 1:46.86 clocking at the Tyson Invitational that had him ranked seventh nationally.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Nico Young – Northern Arizona
Young, who hails from Camarillo, California, wrapped up a dream season with a sweep of the 3000- and 5000-meter titles at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, which included a meet record in the former. Earlier in the season, Young became the first collegian to run sub-13 minutes in the 5000 meters – regardless of venue – when he stopped the clock at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in 12:57.14. He also became the first person in history to register a sub-4 mile at 7000 feet and added another all-time mark in the 3000 to the ledger.
NORTHEAST REGION – Jaheem Hayles – Syracuse
Hayles, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, was the ACC champion in the 60-meter hurdles, the same event in which he finished sixth at the NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships a few weeks later. He clocked his seasonal best of 7.65 to win that ACC title and then equaled the mark in the prelims of the NCAA Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Christopher Morales Williams – Georgia
Morales Williams, who hails from Vaughn, Ontario, starred two laps at a time. He set an all-time world best in the 400 meters of 44.49 at the 2024 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships just two weeks before winning the NCAA title with a 44.67 effort. Needless to say, the 44.49 is also a collegiate record and the 44.67 sits fifth on the all-time chart. Morales Williams also registered a 32.47 clocking in the 300 meters that made him the sixth-fastest performer in collegiate history.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Peter Maru – Arkansas
Maru, who hails from Kween, Uganda, doubled up on distance titles – and meet records – at the 2024 SEC Indoor Track & Field Championships. He won the 3000 meters and the 5000 meters in meet-record times of 7:47.26 and 13:31.11, respectively. Maru didn’t wait long to make an impact this season, either, shattering the 5000-meter program record in his debut with a 13:17.86 effort at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in February.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Parker Wolfe – North Carolina
Wolfe, who hails from Denver, Colorado, scored 16 points at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with runner-up finishes in both the 3000 meters and 5000 meters. Just a few weeks earlier, Wolfe was named ACC Track Athlete of the Championships after winning the mile and 3000 meters at the conference meet. Wolfe set school records in three individual events this season: mile (3:54.17), 3000 meters (7:37.41) and 5000 meters (13:13.61)
WEST REGION – Luke Houser – Washington
Houser, who hails from Woodinville, Washington, proved himself to be the fastest mile in the NCAA throughout the season. He entered the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships as the top-seeded miler with his non-converted 3:51.73 effort from the Washington Invitational and left Boston as the NCAA champion. Earlier in the season, Houser took down the UW school record in the 3000 meters with his 7:40.40 and anchored the team’s DMR to an American indoor record of 9:18.81, which is also top-3 in collegiate history.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Heath Baldwin – Michigan State
Baldwin, who hails from Kalamazoo, Michigan, finished runner-up in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 6238 points, which made him the No. 6 performer in collegiate history. Earlier in the season, Baldwin placed sixth in the high jump at the B1G Indoor Championships with a seasonal best bar of 2.12m (6-11½).
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Sincere Robinson – Rutgers
Robinson, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, earned First-Team All-America honors in the long jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, finishing sixth with a seasonal best of 7.90m (25-11). Earlier in the season, Robinson scored 13 points at the B1G Indoor Championships with a runner-up effort in the long jump and a fourth-place finish in the high jump.
MIDWEST REGION – Till Steinforth – Nebraska
Steinforth, who hails from Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, earned two First-Team All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships behind a third-place finish in the heptathlon with a PR score of 6140 points and a seventh-place effort in the long jump with his 7.87m (25-10) marker. Earlier in the season, Steinforth won the long jump at the B1G Indoor Championships on his last attempt, soaring a personal-best 7.99m (26-2¾).
MOUNTAIN REGION – Omamuyovwi Erhire – Texas Tech
Erhire, who hails from Delta, Nigeria, earned First-Team All-America honors in the high jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, tying for fifth place at 2.18m (7-1½). Just a few weeks earlier, Erhire took runner-up honors in that same event at the Big 12 Indoor Championships after he equaled his personal best of 2.23m (7-3¾). Erhire also added a fourth-place finish in the triple jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships for good measure.
NORTHEAST REGION – Kenneth Ikeji – Harvard
Ikeji, who hails from London, United Kingdom, won the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a heave of 24.32m (79-9½). Earlier in the season, Ikeji topped that event podium at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships with a personal best of 24.39m (80-0¼) that made him the sixth-best performer in collegiate history.
SOUTH REGION – Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan – Ole Miss
Robinson-O’Hagan, who hails from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, won the shot put at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a personal best of 21.05m (69-0¾). He also finished fifth in the weight throw to become a two-time First-Team All-American. Earlier in the season, Robinson-O’Hagan starred in those events at the SEC Indoor Championships, where he became the first athlete in SEC history to win both the shot put and weight throw at the same conference championship meet.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Leo Neugebauer – Texas
Neugebauer, who hails from Leinfeldene-Echterdingen, Germany, won the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a total of 6347 points that made him the fourth-best performer in collegiate history. Earlier in the season, Neugebauer better his previous PR to 6219 in winning the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Outside of the combined event, Neugebauer won the long jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships with a mark of 7.92m (26-0) that put him 11th on the seasonal All-College Descender Order List.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Keaton Daniel – Kentucky
Daniel, who hails from Henderson, Nevada, won the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a clearance of 5.70m (18-8¼). Earlier in the season, Daniel topped 5.70m (19-0¼) for the collegiate lead at the Corky Classic.
WEST REGION – Johnny Brackins Jr. – Southern California
Brackins Jr., who hails from Kansas City, Missouri, soared in the long jump this season, winning the event at the USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships and placing fourth at the NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. He established a PR to win the former at 8.23m (27-0) and earned that top-5 NCAA finish despite only getting two jumps due to competing in the final of the 60-meter hurdles at the same time.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Mick Byrne – Wisconsin
Byrne, in his 16th year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Wisconsin, led the Badger to the team title at the B1G Indoor Championships and a 14th-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Wisconsin, the No. 1-ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, won five events at the B1G Indoor Championships and had nine All-Americans, led by Adam Spencer’s runner-up finish in the mile.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – John Gondak – Penn State
Gondak, in his tenth year as Director of Track and Field at Penn State, led the Nittany Lions to a third-place finish at the B1G Indoor Championships with a program-record 88 points. Penn State, the No. 1-ranked team in the Mid-Atlantic Region, had four B1G individual championships, a runner-up and two bronze medalists. Three of their athletes combined to advance to four finals at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Justin St. Clair – Nebraska
St. Clair, in his second year as Head Coach at Nebraska, led the Cornhuskers to a runner-up finish at the B1G Indoor Championships, just four points away from first while winning three events. Nebraska had nine entries at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, finishing tied for 12th with five First-Team All-America honors.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Wes Kittley – Texas Tech
Kittley, in his 25th year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Texas Tech, led the Red Raiders to the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 50.5 points and winning three individual events. Texas Tech also won the team title at the Big 12 Indoor Championships, scoring 152 points and winning four events.
NORTHEAST REGION – Beth Alford-Sullivan – Connecticut
Alford-Sullivan, in her second year as Director of Track & Field at Connecticut, led the Huskies to the team title at the Big East Indoor Championships with a meet-record 237 points while winning 11 events. Three of those victories led 1-2-3 sweeps as UConn compiled 21 medals, 57 top-5 results, 31 All-Big East honors and the Big East Coaching Staff of the Year award.
SOUTH REGION – Mike Holloway – Florida
Holloway, in his 22nd year as Head Coach at Florida, led the Gators to a third-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 39 points while earning eight First-Team All-America honors. Florida, which qualified nine athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships in 10 events along with a relay team, was also runner-up at the SEC Indoor Championships, winning two events.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Bucknam – Arkansas
Bucknam, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Arkansas, led the Razorbacks to a runner-up finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 41 points while winning two individual events. Arkansas, which had 15 qualifiers to the NCAA Indoor, also won the SEC Indoor Championships with 163 points, winning by 57 points while claiming six events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Chris Miltenberg – North Carolina
Miltenberg, in his fifth year as Director of Track and Field at North Carolina, led the Tar Heels to a program-best fifth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 26 points, earning six individual medals along with another in a relay. North Carolina also won the team title at the ACC Indoor Championships, their first since 1996.
WEST REGION – Quincy Watts – Southern California
Watts, in his third year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, led the Trojans to an eighth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, earning eight First-Team All-America honors. USC’s all-time lists saw major changes with Johnny Brackins Jr. setting a school record in the long jump while six other marks moved to No. 2 all-time.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Dave Astrauskas – Wisconsin
Astrauskas, in his 15th year as assistant coach at Wisconsin, coached Badger throwers to No. 1 regional #EventSquad rankings in the shot put and weight throw while ranking No. 4 and No. 7 nationally. Wisconsin was the only program with two entrants in the men’s shot put at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships as Jason Swarens and Andrew Stone, and the Badgers scored 18 points in the throwing events at the Big Ten Indoor Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Joe Klim – Penn
Klim, in his 12th year as Assistant Director of Track & Field at Penn, coached three Quaker athletes to top-15 national rankings. His pole vaulters rate Nos. 1 & 2 in the Mid-Atlantic Region and finished 1-2 at the Ivy League Indoor Championships, while his top high jumper is ranked No. 1 in the region and led a 1-4-6 finish at the Ivy League Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Tom Hays – Kansas
Hays, in his 18th year as Associate Head Coach at Kansas, coached Jayhawk vertical jumpers to titles in the high jump (Devin Loudermilk) and pole vault (Clayton Simms) at the Big 12 Indoor Championships while also earning First-Team All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Four of his athletes earned podium spots in the pole vault at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Zach Glavash – Texas Tech
Glavash, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Texas Tech, coached Red Raider sprinters and hurdlers to account for 47 of the team’s 50.5 points in winning the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Terrence Jones, swept the NCAA 60 and 200 meters. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships, Texas Tech scored 90 of its 152 points in the sprints and hurdles in winning the team title.
NORTHEAST REGION – Fletcher Brooks – Harvard
Brooks, in his first year as assistant coach at Harvard, coached the Crimson’s Kenneth Ikeji to a national title in the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, the only title for a male athlete from the Northeast Region. Ikeji also set a new school, conference championship meet and Ivy League record with a throw of 24.39m (80-0¼).
SOUTH REGION – Rob Jarvis – Miami (Fla.)
Jarvis, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Miami (Fla.), coached the Hurricanes’ Russell Robinson to a national title in the triple jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Another of his jumpers, Kennedy Sauder, won the high jump at the ACC Indoor Championships and tied for 10th at the NCAA Indoor.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Travis Geopfert – Arkansas
Geopfert, in his 12th year as Associate Head Coach at Arkansas, coached the Razorbacks’ Romaine Beckford (high jump) and Wayne Pinnock (long jump) to national titles at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, as his athletes scored 29 of Arkansas’ 41 points in finishing second as a team. At the SEC Indoor Championships, his athletes scored 72 of the Razorbacks’ 163 points in winning the team title, led by a 1-2-3-5 finish in the heptathlon.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kris Grimes – Kentucky
Grimes, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Kentucky, coached the Wildcats’ Keaton Daniel to a national title in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, along with a runner-up finish by Luke Brown in the triple jump. That duo scored all 18 points for Kentucky in finishing 11th as a team. Daniel and Brown also won titles in their specialty at the SEC Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Joanna Hayes – Southern California
Hayes, in her third year as assistant coach at Southern California, coached Trojan 60-meter hurdlers to the Nos. 1 and 5 positions in the West Region, with Johnny Brackins Jr. finishing as runner-up at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Brackins and Di’Niko Bates moved to No. 2 and No. 8 on the all-time list at USC.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Olivia Markezich – Notre Dame
Markezich, who hails from Woodinville, Washington, finished runner-up in the 3000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships in 8:46.11. She also anchored Notre Dame to a runner-up finish in the distance medley relay in Boston. Markezich starred in the 3000 meters this season, becoming the second-fastest performer in collegiate history with her 8:40.42 effort at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. Her 4:27.76 clocking in the mile is also one of the fastest in collegiate history on an oversized track.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Hayley Kitching – Penn State
Kitching, who hails from Coffs Harbour, Australia, was on fire at the Big-10 Championships, winning both the 800 meters and 600 meters on her way to being named Track Athlete of the Meet. She followed up that performance with a fourth-place finish in the 800 meters at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships just a few weeks later. During the regular season, Kitching set a trio of Penn State records in the 600 meters, 800 meters and DMR – the latter of which she helped qualify for the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Taylor Roe – Oklahoma State
Roe, who hails from Lake Stevens, Washington, capped a strong indoor season with a runner-up finish in the 5000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Roe dominated that same event en route to winning the Big 12 title. During the regular season, Roe left her mark at the Eagle Elite Invitational when she soloed the distance in 15:12.71 for what is now the fourth-fastest mark in collegiate history. Later at that same meet, Roe anchored Oklahoma State’s DMR to the fifth-fastest all-time mark.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Lexy Halladay-Lowry – BYU
Halladay-Lowry, who hails from Meridian, Idaho, brought home two First Team All-American honors from the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, placing fourth in the 3000 meters and fifth in the 5000 meters. At the Big 12 Indoor Championships in Lubbock, Texas, she reigned victorious in the 3000 meters, scoring ten out of BYU’s eventual 71 points.
NORTHEAST REGION – Maia Ramsden – Harvard
Ramsden, who hails from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was on a mid-distance mission this season. She ended her indoor campaign with a meet-record victory in the mile at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships when she ran 4:25.13. That was also the third-fastest mark in collegiate history, right behind her PR of 4:25.83 that she clocked at the 116th NYRR Millrose Games. Just one week before she took the NCAA stage by storm, Ramsden competed at the World Indoor Championships and shattered the New Zealand national record in the 1500 meters with her 4:06.51 effort in the prelims.
SOUTH REGION – Parker Valby – Florida
Valby, who hails from Tampa, Florida, ran into collegiate history this indoor season. It was at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships where she shattered her own collegiate record in the 5000 meters – and just missing the Olympic standard – with her 14:52.79 effort. The following day, Valby doubled back to win the 3000 meters in 8:41.50, which was a meet record and the third-fastest mark in collegiate history. Valby originally broke the 5000-meter collegiate record in December at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener when she ran 14:56.11.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Brianna Lyston – LSU
Lyston, who hails from Portmore, Jamaica, went undefeated in the 60 meters this season, culminating in a national title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. She became the LSU school record holder, second fastest woman in NCAA history, and the fastest 19 year old in the world in the 60 meters with her 7.03 clocking in Boston. Lyston went 7.08 or faster four times this season, including a 7.07 effort in her season debut back in January.
SOUTHEAST REGION – JaMeesia Ford – South Carolina
Ford, who hails from Fayetteville, North Carolina, capped an undefeated season at 200 meters with a dominant victory at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. She turned one lap of the track in Boston in 22.34 to cement her status as the fourth-fastest performer in collegiate history behind two past winners of The Bowerman. Ford also ran a leg on the title-winning 4×400 relay in Boston. She made her presence early on when she traversed 300 meters in 35.83 for the second-fastest performance in collegiate history in her debut.
WEST REGION – Jasmine Jones – Southern California
Jones, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, capped a near-undefeated season at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships by winning the 60-meter hurdle title in 7.77. That mark was one-hundredth of a second quicker than what she ran to finish second at the USATF Indoor Championships and cemented her status as the third-fastest performer in collegiate history. Jones also ran the second leg of USC’s 4×400 relay at the NCAA Championships, helping the Women of Troy finish second with her 51.24 split.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Jadin O’Brien – Notre Dame
O’Brien, who hails from Pewaukee, Wisconsin, won the pentathlon at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a PR score of 4497 points. Earlier in the season, O’Brien topped the pentathlon podium at the ACC Indoor Championships with a then-PR of 4329 points.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Chloe Timberg – Rutgers
Timberg, who hails from Doylestown, Pennsylvania, finished third in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Timberg won the event at the B1G Indoor Championships and shattered the meet record, as well as the SPIRE Institute facility record, with her 4.55m (14-11) clearance.
MIDWEST REGION – Sydney Willits – Iowa State
Willits, who hails from Glenview, Illinois, won the long jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a PR of 6.74m (22-1½) despite coming into the meet seeded 12th out of 16 athletes. Earlier in the season, Willits finished fourth in the pentathlon and fifth in the long jump at the Big 12 Indoor Championships.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Mya Lesnar – Colorado State
Lesnar, who hails from Alexandria, Minnesota, won the shot put at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a mark of 18.53m (60-9½). Earlier in the season, Lesnar became the only collegian this season to surpass the 19-meter mark and then did it again with her PR of 19.10m (62-8) at the Mountain West Indoor Championships. Speaking of the MWC Championships, Lesnar also won the weight throw.
NORTHEAST REGION – Chiamaka Odenigbo – Brown
Odenigbo, who hails from New Rochelle, New York, won the pentathlon at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships with a PR score of 4027. She also earned runner-up honors in the high jump at the meet, an event in which set a PR of 1.82m (5-11½) at the Crimson Elite earlier in the season.
SOUTH REGION – Jalani Davis – Ole Miss
Davis, who hails from Hampton, Virginia, starred in the throwing events throughout the season, punctuated with a victory in the weight throw and a third-place finish in the shot put at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Davis swept those events at the SEC Indoor Championships with PRs in each event: she threw 25.09m (82-3¾) in the weight throw to become the third-best performer in collegiate history; and she threw 18.61m (61-0¾) in the shot put.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Rachel Glenn – Arkansas
Glenn, who hails from Long Beach, California, equaled the collegiate record and set a meet record in winning the high jump at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. She cleared 2.00m (6-6¾) to win a thrilling competition. Earlier in the season, Glenn competed in four events at the SEC Indoor Championships, which included a runner-up effort in the high jump with a previous PR of 1.94m (6-4¼).
SOUTHEAST REGION – Riley Felts – Charlotte
Felts, who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, finished runner-up in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with a PR of 4.50m (14-9). She won six of the nine pole vault competitions she entered this season, including a victory at the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships, where she set a meet record of 4.47m (14-8).
WEST REGION – Hana Moll – Washington
Moll, who hails from Olympia, Washington, made history at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships when she became the first freshman to win the pole vault. In Boston, Moll cleared five of her first six bars on the first attempt and then only needed one to get over the winning height of 4.60m (15-1). Earlier in the season, Moll cleared 4.64m (15-2¾) at the UW Invitational to put herself atop the seasonal NCAA DI Descending Order List.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Sue Parks – Eastern Michigan
Parks, in her 18th year as Director of Track & Field at Eastern Michigan, led the Eagles to the team title at the Mid-American Indoor Championships, winning eight events. Eastern Michigan won by 59 points as her distance runners racked up 54 points, led by Paige Marchant, who won three events and was honored as the meet’s Most Outstanding Performer and Freshman Track Performer of the Year.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Steve Dolan – Penn
Dolan, in his 12th year as Director of Track & Field, led the Quakers to the team title at the Ivy League Heptagonal Indoor Championships with 140 points, winning five events. Penn established school records in eight event, including three all-time Ivy records – Isabella Whittaker in the 400 (51.69), Fore Abinusawa in the 60 (7.25) and the 4×400 relay team (3:29.86).
MIDWEST REGION – Petros Kyprianou – Illinois
Kyprianou, in his second year as Director of Track, Field and Cross Country at Illinois, led the Fighting Illini to the team title at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, their first since 2013. Illinois had a program-record nine individuals qualify for the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, with five earning All-America honors in tying a program best from 1995. During the season, Illinois earned the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking in the USTFCCCA national TFRI.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Brian Bedard – Colorado State
Bedard, in his 18th year as Head Coach at Colorado State, led the Rams to the team title at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships, winning four events. He was named Mountain West Women’s Coach of the Year, and his top athlete, Mya Lesnar, won the national title in the shot put and Gabi Morris earned Second-Team All-America honors.
NORTHEAST REGION – Tramaine Shaw – Northeastern
Shaw, in her fifth year as Director of Track & Field at Northeastern, led the Huskies to their first-ever team title at the CAA Indoor Championships with 119.5 points, winning five events. Northeastern set seven program records during the year, led by freshman Savannah Blair in the 60 meters (7.46).
SOUTH REGION – Mike Holloway – Florida
Holloway, in his 22nd year as Head Coach at Florida, led the Gators to a runner-up finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 50 points as Parker Valby won the 5000 (collegiate record) and 3000 (meet record), while Grace Stark (60 hurdles) and Claire Bryant (long jump) were second in their events. Florida also was runner-up at the SEC Indoor Championships, winning five events.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Johnson – Arkansas
Johnson, in his first year as Head Coach at Arkansas, led the Razorbacks to the team title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 55 points. Arkansas, which entered the meet with 17 entries, had two individual champions – Amber Anning (400, leading the meet’s first-ever 1-2-3 sweep) and Rachel Glenn (high jump with a collegiate record-tying 2.00m/6-6¾). The Razorbacks also won the team title at the SEC Indoor Championships, winning two events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Dave Cianelli – Virginia Tech
Cianelli, in his 23rd year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country, led the Hokies to the team title at the ACC Indoor Championships with 92 points, winning five events. Virginia Tech qualified three athletes in four events for the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, earning three First-Team All-America honors.
WEST REGION – Jerry Schumacher – Oregon
Schumacher, in his second year as Head Coach at Oregon, led the Ducks to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships with 31 points. Oregon, which entered the meet with 10 entries, scored in eight of nine events and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the USTFCCCA National TFRI.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Rodney Zuyderwyk – Notre Dame
Zuyderwyk, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Notre Dame, coached the Fighting Irish’s Jadin O’Brien to a successful defensive of the pentathlon title at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. His athletes scored 19 points in the pentathlon alone at the ACC Indoor Championships, led by O’Brien and runner-up Alaina Brady.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Chene Townsend – Penn
Townsend, in her fourth year as Associate Head Women’s Track & Field Coach at Penn, coached Quaker sprinters and hurdlers to six school records, led by three all-time Ivy League records – Isabella Whittaker in the 400 (51.69), Fore Abinusawa in the 60 (7.25) and the 4×400 relay team (3:29.86).
MIDWEST REGION – Peter Miller – Minnesota
Miller, in his 11th year as Associate Head Coach at Minnesota, coached the Golden Gophers’ Shelby Frank to a runner-up finish in the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. His weight throw crew ranked No. 3 in the national #EventSquad rankings and included Annie Nabwe, who set an all-time national freshman best in the event.
MOUNTAIN REGION – Diljeet Taylor – BYU
Taylor, in her ninth year as Associate Director of Track & Field at BYU, coached Cougar distance runners to score all 28 of the team’s points in placing seventh at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. Her athletes won the national title in the distance medley relay and collected four First-Team All-America honors in individual events.
NORTHEAST REGION – Alex Gibby – Harvard
Gibby, in his seventh year as Associate Head Coach at Harvard, coached the Crimson’s Maia Ramsden to the national title – and a meet record – in the mile at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, just a week after finishing tenth in the World Indoor Championships 1500 meters. His athlete contributed 37 of the team’s 81 points at the Ivy League Indoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Will Palmer – Florida
Palmer, in his second year as assistant coach at Florida, coached the Gators’ Parker Valby to national titles in the 3000 and 5000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships, setting a meet record in the former and breaking her own collegiate record in the latter. Another of his athletes, Flomena Asekol set a school record in the mile and rate No. 4 all-time at 4:26.47.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Adam Pennington – Northwestern State
Pennington, in his ninth year as Associate Head Coach at Northwestern State, helped the Demons win the team title at the Southland Conference Indoor Championships by 57 points. His sprinters and hurdlers won four events, led by Sanaria Butler who set a conference record of 52.92 in the 400. He was also instrumental in the pole vault, where the Demons went 1-3.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Ethan Tussing – VCU
Tussing, in his 16th year as assistant coach at VCU, coached the Rams’ throwers to 41 of the team’s 135 points in winning a third-straight team title at the Atlantic-10 Conference Indoor Championships. His top athlete, Gudrun Hallgrimsdottir, was fourth in the weight throw at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships.
WEST REGION – Curtis Taylor – Oregon
Taylor, in his seventh year as Associate Head Coach at Oregon, coached the Ducks’ sprinters and hurdlers to account for 16 of the team’s 31 points in finishing fourth at the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships. All of his athletes entered in the meet scored, led by Jadyn Mays’s third-place finishes in both the 60 and 200 meters.