Award History
NAIA OTF Regional Awards2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday 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 at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Cortez Cunningham – Madonna (Mich.)
Cunningham, who hails from Ypsilanti, Michigan, is ranked first nationally in the 200 meters at 20.67 and second nationally in the 400 meters at 46.62. He scored 22 points at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with victories in both the 200 and 400, as well as a tote on the runner-up 4×100 relay.
MIDWEST REGION – Payton Mauldin – Dordt (Iowa)
Mauldin, who hails from George, Iowa, is the national leader in the 400 meters at 46.38 and among the top-10 athletes in the 800 meters at 1:51.06. He was named the GPAC Runner of the Year after winning both the 400 and 800 at the conference championship meet. Mauldin’s 400-meter PR came in a winning effort at the Drake Relays.
SOUTH REGION – Jamaal Morris Jr – Dillard (La.)
Morris Jr, who hails from New Orleans, Louisiana, is ranked among the top-10 athletes nationally in both the 100 meters and 200 meters. He qualified for the upcoming NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in both of those events, as well as the 400 and both relays. Morris scored 28 points at the GCAC Outdoor Championships thanks to winning the 200 and 400, placing third in the 100 and second as part of the 4×100 relay.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Evert Silva – Oklahoma City
Silva is the NAIA record-holder in the 1500 meters with his 3:39.87 clocking at the Arkansas Twilight. He is the first NAIA athlete in history to dip under 3:40 in the event. Silva scored 22 points at the Sooner Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with victories in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters, plus a seventh-place finish in the 800.
WEST REGION – Andrew Davies – British Columbia
Davies, who hails from Sarnia, Ontario, is the national leader in the 10,000 meters by more than 15 seconds with his 29:03.01 PR from the Bryan Clay Invitational. He is also ranked second nationally in the 5000 meters at 14:04.91, a mark he ran at the Portland Twilight.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Isaiah Tipping – Marian (Ind.)
Tipping, who hails from Syracuse, Indiana, is the national leader in the hammer throw at 65.28m (214-2) and ranked second nationally in the discus throw at 55.14m (180-11). His hammer PR rates him as the fifth-best performer in NAIA history. Tipping scored 26 points at the Crossroads League Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was named MVP of the Meet.
MIDWEST REGION – Robert Atwater – Midland (Neb.)
Atwater, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, is ranked second nationally in the high jump at 2.14m (7-0¼) and third nationally in the long jump at 7.52m (24-8¼). He scored 21.5 points at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to top-6 finishes in the high jump, long jump, pole vault and triple jump. Atwater won the high jump at the Drake Relays.
SOUTH REGION – David Friedberg – Reinhardt (Ga.)
Friedberg, who hails from Ellabell, Georgia, set an NAIA record in the javelin throw with his 76.08m (249-7) heave at the Berry Field Day Invitational. He owns each of the top-15 throws of the year among NAIA athletes and five of the top-7 marks in NAIA history.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Joshua Morris – Texas Wesleyan
Morris, who hails from Cypress, Texas, is the national leader in the triple jump at 15.42m (50-7¼). He is undefeated against NAIA competition this season in his signature event, which includes a victory at the Sooner Athletic Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
WEST REGION – TJ Davis – Eastern Oregon
Davis, who hails from Sandpoint, Idaho, is the national leader in the decathlon with 6996 points.
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 Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 269 points, winning 11 events. Marian accumulated qualifiers to the national championships in 13 individual events all three relays, led by national leaders in the shot put and hammer.
MIDWEST REGION – Craig Heynen – Dordt (Iowa)
Heynen, in his 16th year as Head Coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the team title at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 185 points, winning seven events. Dordt set program records this season and has national-leading marks in the 400 and 4×400, as at No. 1 national #EventSquad ranking in the 400.
SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)
Dodson, in his sixth year as Director of Track and Field at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the team title at The Sun Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 272 points, winning 11 events and setting two conference records. Dodson earned Sun Conference Coach of the Year honors, and Southeastern has two No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings – the 100 and 400 hurdles.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Randy Dalzell – Texas Wesleyan
Dalzell, in his second hear as Head Coach at Texas Wesleyan, led the Rams to the team titles at the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet-record 288 points, winning 11 events. Dalzell earned SAC Coach of the Year honors, and Texas Wesleyan has been ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region all season while compiling 16 national qualifying marks.
WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 33rd year as Head Coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to the team title at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 176 points, winning seven events. Eastern Oregon set three program records this season, qualified 11 athletes in 12 events to national championships and has a No. 1 national #EventSquad ranking in the steeplechase.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Nathan Dyer – Marian (Ind.)
Dyer, in his third year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), coached the Knights’ throwers to No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings in three events – shot put, discus and hammer. His athletes won titles in the shot put, discus and hammer throw at the Crossroads League Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 68 points, and own national-leading marks in the shot (Jacob Netral) and hammer (Isaiah Tipping).
MIDWEST REGION – Nate Wolf – Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Dordt (Iowa), coached the Defenders’ mid-distance and distance runners to titles in five events at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships – 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000 and 4×800 relay – while scoring 81 of the team’s 185 points to win the team title. His runners have No. 1 Midwest Region rankings in the 800 and 10,000.
SOUTH REGION – David Claybrooks – Keiser (Fla.)
Claybrooks, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Keiser (Fla.), coached the Seahawks’ sprinters and jumpers to score 72 points at The Sun Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning titles in the high jump and long jump. His long jumpers are No. 6 in the national #EventSquad rankings, while the high jumping group is No. 8.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – David Cox – Texas Wesleyan
Cox, in his first year as assistant coach at Texas Wesleyan, coached the nation’s top-ranked athlete in two events – 110 hurdles (Tajean Houston) and triple jump (Joshua Morris). His Ram athletes won five events at the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships – 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, high jump, long jump and triple jump – and amassed 33 points in the 110 hurdles alone in finishing 1-2-3-4-6-8.
WEST REGION – Connor Bracken – Eastern Oregon
Bracken, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Eastern Oregon, coached Mountaineer athletes to combine for 93 of the team’s 176 points at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in winning the team title. Seven of his athletes have national qualifying marks in six events – 400, 110 hurdles, 400 hurdles, 4×400 relay, high jump and decathlon as they set program records in the 400 and 4×400.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Soyinne Grenyion – Indiana Tech
Grenyion, who hails from Hyattsville, Maryland, is the national leader in the 200 meters at 23.11 and third nationally in the 400 meters at 53.80. She clocked both of her PRs in winning efforts at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and holds the third-fastest mark in NAIA history in the half-lapper.
MIDWEST REGION – Hannah Antkoviak – Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
Antkoviak, who hails from Allegan, Michigan, is the national leader – and NAIA record-holder – in the 400-meter hurdles at 56.20. She recorded four all-time top-10 marks this season in the event and currently rates among the top-15 athletes across all collegiate divisions. Antkoviak is also strong over the shorter distance, ranking third nationally in the 100-meter hurdles.
SOUTH REGION – Joy Abu – William Carey (Miss.)
Abu, who hails from Nigeria, is ranked among the top-11 athletes nationally in seven different events, including top-4 individual efforts in the 100 meters, 100-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. She scored 28 points at the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind a 200-400 sweep and a runner-up finish in the 100-meter hurdles.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Riley Hiebert – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Hiebert, who hails from Eudora, Kansas, scored 30 points at the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships behind victories in the 1500 meters, steeplechase and 5000 meters. She is ranked second nationally in the steeplechase with her 10:38.80 PR from the Drake Relays.
WEST REGION – Hannah Fredericks – The Master’s (Calif.)
Fredericks, who hails from Santa Clarita, California, is the national leader in the 10,000 meters by more than one minute with her 34:09.38 PR from the Stanford Invitational. She is also ranked tenth nationally in the 5000 meters at 17:06.57. Fredericks scored 32 points at the GSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a 5000-10,000 double, a runner-up finish in the 1500 meters and a fifth-place showing in the 800 meters.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Princess Kara – Indiana Wesleyan
Kara, who hails from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is the national leader in the discus at 54.14m (177-8), which is the second-farthest throw in NAIA history. Including that mark, Kara has notched six all-time top-10 efforts this season alone. Kara is also ranked fifth nationally in the shot put at 14.71m (48-3¼).
MIDWEST REGION – Kiara Anderson – Hastings (Neb.)
Anderson, who hails from Mesa, Arizona, is ranked second nationally in the hammer throw at 59.73m (196-0) and fourth nationally in the discus throw at 48.83m (160-3). She scored 28 points at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to winning both of those events and finishing runner-up in the shot put.
SOUTH REGION – Fegor Clifford – William Carey (Miss.)
Clifford, who hails from Nigeria, is the national leader in the triple jump at 12.46m (40-10½). She is also ranked fifth nationally in the long jump at 6.03m (19-9½). Clifford scored 23 points in field events at the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Renee Finke – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Finke, who hails from Montgomery County, Missouri, is ranked second nationally in the high jump at 1.76m (5-9¼) and third nationally in the heptathlon with 4987 points. She scored 16 points in field events at the Heart Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a victory in the high jump and a third-place effort in the triple jump.
WEST REGION – Julia Pisenti – Jessup (Calif.)
Pisenti, who hails from Grass Valley, California, scored a whopping 49 points in field events at the GSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and was summarily named GSAC MVP. She won the discus (an event in which she is ranked second nationally), shot put and triple jump, and finished top-8 in both the javelin and pole vault.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Doug Edgar – Indiana Tech
Edgar, in his 14th year as Head Coach at Indiana Tech, led the Warriors to the team title at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 197 points, winning six events. Indiana Tech is ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region and No. 3 nationally.
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 Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 209.5 points, winning six events. Concordia, which has 10 automatic national qualifying performances, is ranked No. 1 in the Midwest Region and No. 5 nationally.
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 in the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 299 points, winning 14 events. William Carey, ranked No. 2 nationally, has No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings in five events – 100, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alstin Benton – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Benton, in his 11th year as Head Coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 220 points, winning nine events including all three relays. Saint Mary is ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region and No. 7 nationally.
WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 33rd year as Head Coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to its first-ever team title at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 192.5 points, winning four events. Eastern Oregon set three program records and qualified 15 athletes in 10 events to the national championships in compiling five top-10 national #EventSquad rankings, including a No. 1 in the heptathlon.
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 the Trojans’ distance runners to national qualifying marks in every distance event. His athletes have a No. 3 national #EventSquad ranking in the 5000 and a No. 3 national ranking in the 4×800.
MIDWEST REGION – Tanner Gust – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Gust, in his second year as assistant coach at Dickinson State (N.D.), coached the Blue Hawks’ athletes to top-6 national #EventSquad rankings in all four throwing events, including No. 1 in the shot put and hammer throw. His athletes combined for 74 points at the NSAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, led by Field Athlete of the Year Taylor Laumeyer’s 28 points.
SOUTH REGION – Malcolm Dias – William Carey (Miss.)
Dias, in his 10th year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached Crusader athletes to 14 event titles at the SSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His athletes amassed No. 1 national #EventSquad rankings in five events – 100, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles, long jump and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Dylan Biedron – Saint Mary (Kan.)
Biedron, in his fourth year as head sprints coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), coached the Spires to four event titles at the KCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships – 100, 200, 4×100 and 4×400. His athletes qualified for the national championships and set program records in all four of those events this season.
WEST REGION – Johnny Deryeghiayan – Vanguard (Calif.)
Deryeghiayan, in his sixth year as Associate Head Coach at Vanguard (Calif.), coached the Lions’ sprinters five event titles at the GSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including 1-2-3-4 finishes in both the 200 and 400. His top athlete, Jordyn Burke, scored 41 points and was named Track Athlete of the Meet.