2024 NJCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS — Here are our Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NJCAA DIII Outdoor Track & Field season!

Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Bradley Ahrens – Mineral Area (Mo.)

Ahrens, who hails from Imperial, Missouri, tops the national chart in the 800 meters and 1500 meters at 1:56.42 and 3:57.45, respectively. He is also ranked sixth nationally in the 5000. He was named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week once this season.

EAST REGION – Kyler Alston – Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

Alston, who hails from Latham, New York, is ranked second nationally in the 400-meter hurdles at 55.51. He also has a season best of 24.03 in the 200 meters.

NORTHEAST REGION – David Adekoya – Queensborough (N.Y.) CC

Adekoya, who hails from Far Rockaway, New York, is ranked among the top-6 athletes on the seasonal Descending Order List in both the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles at third and sixth, respectively. He also qualified for the NJCAA Championships in the 100, 200 and 400 meters, as well as part of the 4×100 relay.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Trenton Braswell – Mineral Area (Mo.)

Braswell, who hails from Marble Hill, Missouri, posted national-leading marks in all four throwing events: discus throw, javelin throw, hammer throw and shot put. He was named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week once this season on March 26.

EAST REGION – Brooks Robson – Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

Robson, who hails from Bennington, Vermont, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump at 14.34m (47-0¾) and has only lost once this season. He is also ranked second nationally in the long jump at 6.97m (22-10½). Robson was named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week once this season on April 15. 

NORTHEAST REGION – LaDuke Harris – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

Harris, who hails from Mastic, New York, is ranked third nationally in the high jump at 1.89m (6-2¾). He is also ranked seventh nationally in the long jump at 6.43m (21-1¼). 

Men’s Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Mallory Dominguez/ Floyd Turner – DuPage (Ill.)

The duo of Mallory Dominguez and Floyd Turner began as Interim Co-Head Coaches in March and led the Chaps to a No. 1 ranking in the National TFRI with national leaders in eight events (100, 200, 5000, 10,000, 400 hurdles, high jump, 4×100 and 4×400). 

EAST REGION – Jeoffrey York – Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

York, in his eighth year as Head Coach at Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC, led the Vikings to a No. 2 ranking in the East Region TFRI and No. 7 nationally. Hudson Valley leads the East Region in four events, including triple jump national leader Brooks Robson at 14.34m (47-0¾).

NORTHEAST REGION – Matthew French – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

French, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC, led the Sharks to a No. 1 ranking in the Northeast Region TFRI and No. 5 nationally. Suffolk County leads the Northeast Region in 12 events.

Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Jim Akins – Mineral Area (Mo.)

Akins, in his third year as assistant coach at Mineral Area (Mo.), coached the Cardinals throwing group to impressive depth in the national rankings with four of the top-10 in the discus and hammer, three of the top-5 in the shot put and five of the top-6 in the javelin. His squad was led by the national leader in all four throws in Trenton Braswell.

EAST REGION – Dan Kennedy – Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

Kennedy, in his second year as assistant coach at Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC, coached the nation’s leading triple jumper and No. 2 long jumper in Brooks Robson. His Viking pole vault group earned the national No. 1 #EventSquad ranking and his long jump crew was No. 2.

NORTHEAST REGION – Oscar Mercado – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

Mercado, in his second year as assistant coach at Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC, coached the Sharks’ sprinters and hurdlers to amass 14 national qualifying marks, including Northeast Region leaders in five events – 100, 200, 400, 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles.

Women’s Track Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Lilly Alberts – Harper (Ill.)

Alberts, who hails from Richmond, Illinois, is the national leader in the 400 (56.09), 800 (2:10.81) and 1500 meters (4:40.25). She has only lost one race this outdoor season, which came in a meet against runners from all collegiate divisions. Albert was named M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week twice this season (April 2 and April 29).

EAST REGION – Olivia Skylstad – Hudson Valley (N.Y.) CC

Skylstad, who hails from Ballston Spa, New York, is ranked among the nation’s top-10 athletes in both the 100-meter and 400-meter hurdles. Her top mark comes in the 400H, where she is billed seventh at 1:15.00. Skylstad also totes the baton on the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.

NORTHEAST REGION – Kimiko Quayle – FIT (N.Y.)

Quayle, who hails from Demarest, New Jersey, is ranked second nationally in both the 800 meters (2:23.31) and 1500 meters (4:49.58).

Women’s Field Athlete of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Lily Wintergerst – Harper (Ill.)

Wintergerst, who hails from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, is ranked among the nation’s top-5 athletes in the pole vault, triple jump and long jump, where she is second, second and fourth, respectively.

EAST REGION – Kara Knorr – RCSJ Gloucester (N.J.)

Knorr, who hails from Woodstown, New Jersey, is ranked among the nation’s top-5 athletes in the hammer throw, javelin throw and shot put. She is the national leader in the hammer at 40.02m (131-4) with a mark that she notched at the Blue Jay Tune Up.

NORTHEAST REGION – Aaliyah Shorter – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

Shorter, who hails from Riverhead, New York, is the national leader in the triple jump at 10.44m (34-3). She is also ranked second nationally in the long jump at 5.12m (16-9¾). Shorter is also rated highly in the region in the shot put (No. 2), discus (No. 3) and javelin (No. 3). 

Women’s Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – Jim Macnider – Harper (Ill.)

Macnider, in his 13th year as Head Coach at Harper (Ill.), led the Hawks to a No. 1 ranking in the National TFRI with national leaders in six events (400, 800, 1500, 5000, 100 hurdles and 4×400). Harper has Central Region-leading marks in 11 events (adding the 10,000, long jump, triple jump, discus and hammer). 

EAST REGION – Ryan Hughes – RCSJ Gloucester (N.J.)

Hughes, in his 21st year as Head Coach at RCSJ Gloucester (N.J.), led the Roadrunners to a No. 1 ranking in the East Region and No. 5 nationally. RCSJ Gloucester leads the East Region in five events and has 10 athletes qualified for the nationals.

NORTHEAST REGION – Matthew French – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

French, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC, led the Sharks to a No. 1 ranking in the Northeast Region and No. 3 nationally. Suffolk County leads the Northeast Region in 13 events, including national leaders Malia Fowler (high jump) and Aaliyah Shorter (triple jump).

Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year

CENTRAL REGION – John Majerus – Harper (Ill.)

Majerus, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Harper (Ill.), coached Hawk athletes to five of the team’s six nation-leading marks – 400, 800, 1500, 5000 and 4×400. His top athlete, Lilly Alberts, is responsible for three of those and anchors the 4×400 relay (as well as the Central Region-leading 4×100). His recruiting has helped make this year’s squad the largest in program history.

EAST REGION – Joseph Kalnas – RCSJ Gloucester (N.J.)

Kalnas, in his 18th year as assistant coach at RCSJ Gloucester (N.J.), coached Roadrunner throwers to East Region-leading marks in all four throwing events, with each rating among the top-2 nationally. Top thrower Kara Knorr is responsible for three of those, including the nation-leading performance in the hammer. 

NORTHEAST REGION – Weber Lord – Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC

Lord, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Suffolk County (N.Y.) CC, coached four Shark athletes to total 10 national-qualifying marks in field and combined events. Two of his athletes lead the nation – Malia Fowler in the high jump and Aaliyah Shorter in the triple jump.