Award History
NJCAA DI OTF National Awards2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
National Men's Coach of the Year
Erik Vance was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Vance, in his eighth year as head coach at South Plains (Texas), led the Texans to the team title at 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. South Plains won four events and placed second in four events to tally 116.5 points. It was the fourth-straight year with at least a share of the national outdoor team title for the Texans.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Treneese Hamilton was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Hamilton, who hails from Canefield, Dominica, scored 19 field event points at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning the shot put and placing fourth in the hammer and fifth in the javelin. While she set PRs in all three events, her mark in the shot held additional significance in breaking the NJCAA record with a heave of 17.46m (57-3½).
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Christopher Young was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Young, who hails from Clarendon, Jamaica, scored 34 points in field events at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to victories with PRs in the shot put (18.76m/61-6¾) and hammer (56.61m/185-8) along with a runner-up placing in javelin (63.23m/207-5) and third-place finish in the discus (57.42m/188-5). In NJCAA history, Young rates No. 7 all-time in the shot, No. =10 in the discus and No. 11 in the javelin.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Anita Afrifa was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Afrifa, who hails from Kumasi, Ghana, swept the 100 and 200 meters at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with times of 11.49 and 22.98, respectively. Her time in the 200 was the fastest of the year and improved her standing at No. 4 on the all-time NJCAA list, and she twice clocked 11.32 during the regular season to lead the yearly list in the 100.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Makarawau, who hails from Harare, Zimbabwe, swept the 100 and 200 meters at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with times of 10.04 and 20.08, respectively. His time in the 100 the fastest wind-legal performance of the year, while his clocking in the 200 was second only to his own 19.93 set earlier in the spring as he now owns the Nos. 3 and 4 performance in NJCAA history in the 200.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Emmanuel Dixon was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Dixon, in his third year as assistant coach of sprints, hurdles, jumps, mid-distances and multis at Barton (Kan.) CC, coached athletes who accounted for 41 of the Cougars’ 93 points in finishing runner-up at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Two of this athletes won national titles – Jazmine Williamson in the long jump and Ana Cuoto in the heptathlon.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Tabarie Henry was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Henry, in his fourth year as as assistant coach of sprints, hurdles and jumps at New Mexico JC, coached athletes to four victories at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships – Tapiwanashe (Carlie) Makarawu in the 100 (10.04) and 200 (20.08), Donald Chiyangwa in the 400 (45.06) and the 4×400 relay (3:05.70). Makarawu’s 100 and Chiyangwa’s 400 winning times were lifetime bests.
National Women's Coach of the Year
David Schenek was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Schenek, in his 15th year as head coach at Barton (Kan.) CC, led the Cougars to a runner-up team finish at the 2024 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Barton won four events and placed second in two, scoring 93 points. Two of the Cougars’ winners set NJCAA records – both in events that Schenek coaches – Treneese Hamilton in the shot put and Cedricka Williams in the discus.