Award History
NCAA DII OTF Regional Awards2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches at the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Emporia, Kansas. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Information on each of the winners can be found below.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Samuel Idiens – Charleston (W.Va.)
Idiens, who hails from Christchurch, New Zealand, finished third in the 800 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The 1:48.94 that he ran earlier in the season at the Lee University Last Chance Meet made him the fastest freshman in NCAA DII this year.
CENTRAL REGION – Wes Ferguson – Neb.-Kearney
Ferguson, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, won the 800-meter title at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He finished the season undefeated against all collegians in the two-lapper, which included victories at the Bryan Clay Invitational and Drake Relays.
EAST REGION – Ashwin Jood – Goldey-Beacom
Jood, who hails from Pretoria, South Africa, finished seventh in the 800 meters at 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He was named the CACC Athlete of the Year after winning conference titles in the 200 and 400 meters. Jood’s season best in the 400 meters of 46.04 rated him fourth on the year-end Descending Order List.
MIDWEST REGION – Joshua Page – Tiffin
Page, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, won the 400-meter title – and capped an undefeated season – at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The 45.24 he ran in the prelims of NCAA Championships was the eighth fastest mark in NCAA DII history.
SOUTH REGION – Sam Wilhelm – Alabama-Huntsville
Wilhelm, who hails from Knob Knoster, Missouri, placed top-5 in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He won both of those events at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships and set school records of 13:48.09 and 28:43.84, respectively.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – William Amponsah – West Texas A&M
Amponsah, who hails from Agona Swedru, Central, Ghana, won the 10,000 meters – and finished runner-up in the 5000 meters – at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He entered the NCAA Championships as the national leader in the 10,000 meters from the 28:00.09 he ran at the Bryan Clay Invitational.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Hamza Chahid – Wingate
Chahid, who hails from Casablanca, Morocco, finished third in the 5000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He entered the NCAA Championships rated among the top-5 athletes nationally in both the 5000 meters (No. 3, 13:40.30) and 10,000 meters (No. 5, 28:37.87).
WEST REGION – Shareez Hamm – Academy of Art
Hamm, who hails from Gray, Georgia, won the 400-meter hurdles at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a PR of 49.97. He also toted the baton on the fourth-place 4×400 relay to leave Emporia, Kansas, as a two-time All-American.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Josh Herbster – Shippensburg
Herbster, who hails from Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, finished third in the hammer at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He set a PR of 66.93m (219-7) in winning the event at the PSAC Outdoor Championships and established an all-time conference record.
CENTRAL REGION – Hunter Jones – Pittsburg State
Jones, who hails from Nickerson, Kansas, won the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 7898 points, which made him the third best performer in NCAA DII history. Within that decathlon, Jones cleared 2.19m (7-2¼) in the high jump that tied the highest jump ever in a decathlon in collegiate history.
EAST REGION – Jordan Davis – Southern Connecticut
Davis, who hails from Wallingford, Connecticut, won the javelin – and became the fourth best performer in collegiate history – with his winning heave of 84.45m (277-1) at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Davis launched the javelin 84.45m (274-10) at the Texas Relays for what is now the tenth farthest mark in collegiate history.
MIDWEST REGION – Myles Kerner – Grand Valley State
Kerner, who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the shot put crown at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a heave of 19.94m (65-5) that put him at No. 7 on the all-time NCAA DII chart. He won six of the seven competitions he entered this outdoor season, including victories at the Texas Relays and GLIAC Outdoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Cale Kassen – Lee (Tenn.)
Kassen, who hails from Valley View, Texas, finished runner-up in the decathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 7571 points. He earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors in the decathlon, high jump, long jump and pole vault.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Tomas Nieto – Texas A&M-Kingsville
Nieto, who hails Ibague, Colombia, finished runner-up in the pole vault at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Nieto cleared 5.50m (18-0½) at the Tom Tellez Invitational to become the ninth best performer in NCAA DII history.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Darius Weathers – Wingate
Weathers, who hails from Columbia, South Carolina, scored 18 points in the horizontal jumps at the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a victory in the triple jump and a runner-up finish in the long jump. He set a PR of 15.44m (50-8) in the triple jump at the SAC Outdoor Championships and later tied that mark at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Jermel Jones II – Azusa Pacific
Jones, who hails from Los Angeles, California, won the long jump at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a leap of 8.18m (26-10). Just a few weeks earlier, Jones scored 19 points over three events at the PacWest Outdoor Championships to help APU win the team title.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Dave Osanitsch – Shippensburg
Osanitsch, in his 19th year as Head Coach at Osanitsch, led the Red Raiders] to the team title in the PSAC Outdoor Championships with 246.83 points, winning nine events. Shippensburg, which had two or more scorers in 13 events in racking up 20 All-PSAC (top-3) honors in individual events, finished the year 25th at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, in his third year as Head Coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 78 points, winning four events – 200, 110 hurdles, triple jump and decathlon. Pittsburg State also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships with 186.5 points, winning six events with 12 All-MIAA (top-3) honors.
EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut
Wallin, in his 14th year as Head Coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to team titles at the Northeast-10 Outdoor Championships as well as the all-division NEICAAA Outdoor Championships with 286.5 and 103 points, respectively. Southern Connecticut also finished 25th at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, led by DII javelin champion and record setter Jordan Davis.
MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 25th year as Head Coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a fifth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning two events with 18 individual entries. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships with 319 points, winning 15 events.
SOUTH REGION – Caleb Morgan – Lee (Tenn.)
Morgan, in his 12th year as Director of Track & Field at Lee (Tenn.), led the Flames to a program-high ninth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Lee, which earned seven All-American and 32 all-region honors, also won the team title at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships, winning nine events.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M
Stewart, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at West Texas A&M, led the Buffaloes to a runner-up finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning four events. West Texas A&M also won the team title at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships, winning 12 events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jacqueline Kirby – Wingate
Kirby, in her second year as Head Coach at Wingate, led the Bulldogs to a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with 11 athletes earning entries. Wingate also won the team title at the SAC Outdoor Championships, winning five events.
WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific
Hoyt, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, with seven All-American honors. Azusa Pacific also won the team title at the PacWest Conference Outdoor Championships by 61 points.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Steve Spence – Shippensburg
Spence, in his 31st year as assistant coach at Shippensburg, coached the Red Raiders’ distance and mid-distance runners to score 99 points at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, winning five events – 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000 and steeplechase. While his runners in the 5000 and 10,000 combined for 54 points at the PSAC Championships, his leading athlete at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships was Drew Dailey, who earned All-American honors in the 800 with a fifth-place finish.
CENTRAL REGION – Brian Allen – Missouri Southern
Allen, in his 10th year as assistant coach at Missouri Southern, coached the Lions’ throwers to account for 36 of the team’s 42 points in finishing fourth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His crew won the hammer, had three First Team All-American honors in the discus (3-4-5), two First Team All-American honors in the shot (3-6) and finished seventh in the javelin. At the MIAA Outdoor Championships, his throwers combined for 56 points.
EAST REGION – Daniel Labbadia – Southern Connecticut
Labbadia, in his second year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached the Fighting Owls’ javelin throwers to earn two entries to the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. That duo finished 1-2 at the Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Championships, and his top athlete, Jordan Davis, won the javelin title while setting the DII record at 84.45m (277-1).
MIDWEST REGION – Steve Jones – Grand Valley State
Jones, in his 16th year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached the Lakers jumpers to account for 57 points at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships. His high jumpers scored 19 of the team’s 41.5 points in finishing fifth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, placing 1-3-6 led by national champion Jaivon Harrison.
SOUTH REGION – Ronnie McGirt – Albany State (Ga.)
McGirt, in his 12th year as assistant coach at Albany State (Ga.), coached the Golden Rams’ 4×100 relay team to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His sprinters scored all 24 of the team’s points in finishing ninth, including placings of 3-6 in the 100 and 3-5 in the 200 while setting program records in both events this season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Zach Daniel – West Texas A&M
Daniel, in his second year as Head Cross Country Coach at West Texas A&M, coached the Buffaloes’ distance runners to score 90 points at the Lone Star Conference Outdoor Championships, winning four events with multiple scorers in the 1500 (1-2-5), 5000 (1-2-3-4-6) and 10,000 (1-2-3-5). His leading runner, William Amponsah, won the 10,000 and finished second at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Pol Domenech – Wingate
Domenech, in his fourth year as Head Cross Country Coach at Wingate, coached the Bulldogs’ distance runners to account for 155 of the team’s 250 points in winning the team title at the SAC Outdoor Championships. His athletes achieved five entries in both the 5000 and 10,000 at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, along with three in the steeplechase and one in the 1500.
WEST REGION – Sean Smith – Azusa Pacific
Smith, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Azusa Pacific, coached the Cougars’ distance runners to score 18 of the team’s 32 points in finishing sixth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. At the PacWest Conference Outdoor Championships, his runners accounted 105 points, including titles in the 800, 1500, 5000 and steeplechase.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Kylie Anicic – Edinboro
Anicic, who hails from Mickleton, New Jersey, finished sixth in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Anicic won both the 1500 and 10,000 meters at the PSAC Outdoor Championships. Anicic ended the season as the region’s top-ranked athlete in the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters.
CENTRAL REGION – Denisha Cartwright – Minnesota State
Cartwright, who hails from Nassau, Bahamas, capped a historic season with a masterclass performance at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It was in Emporia, Kansas, where she scored 28.25 points with individual titles in both the 100-meter hurdles and the 200 meters, as well as a runner-up finish in the 100 meters and a tote on the eighth-place 4×100 relay. Her winning mark of 12.37 in the 100H was an all-conditions, world-leading mark and among the top-5 all-conditions performances in collegiate history. Just a few weeks earlier, Cartwright set the NCAA DII 100H record of 12.60 at the NSIC Outdoor Championships.
EAST REGION – Katherine Marsh – Adelphi
Marsh, who hails from East Meadow, New York, scored 25 points at the 2024 NE10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships with individual titles in both the 800 and 1500 meters, plus totes on the winning 4×400 and 4×800 relays. Earlier in the season, Marsh anchored Adelphi’s 4×800 relay team to an NCAA DII record of 8:55.06 at the Penn Relays.
MIDWEST REGION – Kylie Ray – Findlay
Ray, who hails from Pinckney, Michigan, earned three First-Team All-America certificates at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Findlay standout finished third in the 400-meter hurdles and toted the baton on two top-8 relay teams. Just a few weeks earlier, Ray scored 19.5 points at the G-MAC Outdoor Championships and set PRs in both hurdling events (14.26 in the 100H; 58.11 in winning the 400H).
SOUTH REGION – Yakubu Balikis – West Alabama
Balikis, who hails from Lagos, Nigeria, earned two First-Team All-America certificates at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a fourth-place finish in the 100 meters and a seventh-place effort in the 200 meters. Earlier in the season, Balikis was named the GSC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year after winning both the 100 and 200 meters.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Gracie Hyde – Adams State
Hyde, who hails from Jonesboro, Arkansas, won both the 1500 meters and steeplechase titles at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Hyde set NCAA DII records in each event at the Bryan Clay Invitational: 4:08.95 in the 1500 meters; 9:28.17 in the steeplechase.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne
Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, clocked each of the top-3 fastest 100-meter marks in NCAA DII history this season: 11.04 at the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which is No. 1; 11.06 and 11.16 at the Southside Power & Fitness Invitational, which sit No. 2 and No. 3. She capped her season with an NCAA title in the event and went a wind-aided 10.96.
WEST REGION – Juvonna Cornette – Academy of Art
Cornette, who hails from Guyana, earned three First-Team All-America certificates at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with top-8 finishes in both the 100 and 200 meters, plus a tote on a top-8 relay team. She ended the season rated among the top-2 athletes nationally in both the 100 meters (No. 9, 11.34) and 200 meters (No. 10, 23.22).
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Natasha Bernett – Seton Hill
Bernett, who hails from Chicago, Illinois, finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The Seton Hill standout scored 5580 points and crushed her own all-time PSAC record by more than 200 points. It was during that heptathlon where she set an all-time PSAC record in the 100-meter hurdles of 13.49.
CENTRAL REGION – Arika Harbo – Concordia-St. Paul
Harbo, who hails from Saint Paul, Minnesota, starred in field events at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a victory in the high jump and a fifth-place finish in the heptathlon. She won eight of nine high jump competitions this season, including those embedded in the combined event. Earlier in the season, Harbo scored 23.5 points in field events at the NSIC Outdoor Championships.
EAST REGION – Brynn King – Roberts Wesleyan
King, who hails from The Woodlands, Texas, rewrote the record book in the pole vault this outdoor season. It all started at the Texas Relays, where she cleared 4.68m (15-4¼) to set a meet record and move up to No. 4 in collegiate history. That was her best mark of the season, but she added two more 15+ foot bars at 4.60m (15-1) in the month of May.
MIDWEST REGION – Cheyenne Nesbitt – Saginaw Valley State
Nesbitt, who hails from Bay City, Michigan, won the heptathlon at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet-record score of 6002 points. She also placed seventh in the high jump in Emporia, Kansas. Earlier in the season, Nesbitt won both the high jump and long jump at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Sidney Blackburn – Albany State (Ga.)
Blackburn, who hails from Pompano Beach, Florida, finished fourth in the discus throw at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a PR of 50.58m (166-0). Earlier in the season, Blackburn won the event at the SIAC Outdoor Championships, among others.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Josie Coffey – Colorado Mesa
Coffey, who hails from Lakewood, Colorado, finished fifth in the high jump at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Earlier in the season, Coffey won the event at the RMAC Outdoor Championships and cleared a PR 1.80m (5-10¾) at the Maverick Invitational.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Caley Sosnowski – Tusculum
Sosnowski, who hails from Oxford, Florida, finished runner-up in the javelin throw at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a PR heave of 51.60m (169-4).
WEST REGION – Nicole Warwick – Azusa Pacific
Warwick, who hails from Modesto, California, won the long jump crown at the 2024 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a meet-record leap of 6.81m (22-4¼). Earlier in the season, Warwick put up a then-division-leading heptathlon score of 5927 points at the Bryan Clay Invitational, which also doubles as the fourth best total in NCAA DII history.
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Jamal Johnson – Seton Hill
Johnson, in his second year as Head Coach at Seton Hill, led the Griffins to a program-high fourth place finish at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, winning three events as the team earned overall and field event MVP honors. Seton Hill was the highest-placing team from the Atlantic Region at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, led by two fourth-place finishes.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, his third year as Head Coach at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 100 points and winning two events while earning 24 First Team All-American honors. Pittsburg State also won the team title at the MIAA Outdoor Championships, winning nine events.
EAST REGION – Katie Rees – Adelphi
Rees, in her 14th year as Head Coach/Assistant Athletic Director at Adelphi, led the Panthers a fourth-place finish at the Northeast-10 Outdoor Championships, winning five events including a 1-2-3 sweep in the 800 led by Track Athlete of the Meet and MVP/High Point Scorer Katherine Marsh. Adelphi broke five program records this season, including the 4×800 relay team setting the NCAA DII record of 8:55.06 at the Penn Relays.
MIDWEST REGION – Jared Krout – Findlay
Krout, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field at Findlay, led the Oilers to a seventh-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning 14 First Team All-American honors including G-MAC Field and Track Athletes of the Meet Trista Fintel and Jordan Taylor. Findlay also won the team title at the G-MAC Outdoor Championships with 194.5 points, winning eight events.
SOUTH REGION – Michael Rosolino – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Rosolino, in his 22nd year as Head Coach at Embry-Riddle (Fla.), led the Eagles to the team title at the Peach Belt Conference Outdoor Championships with 244 points, winning 14 events including every field event. Embry-Riddle set three program records this season and earned two All-American honors.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Stewart – West Texas A&M
Stewart, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country, led the Buffaloes to a sixth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning two events courtesy of 5000/10,000 champion Florance Uwajeneza. West Texas A&M also won the team title at the Lone Start Conference Outdoor Championships, winning eight events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne
Paterson, in his fifth year as Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a ninth-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning two events – including the 100 with DII record setter Alexis Brown – and earning seven All-American honors. Lenoir-Rhyne also finished as runner-up in the SAC Outdoor Championships, winning seven events.
WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific
Hoyt, in his seventh year as Director of Track & Field at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to a third-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, earning All-American awards in seven events led by long jump meet record setter Nicole Warwick. Azusa Pacific also won the team title at the PacWest Conference Outdoor Championships, winning four events.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Doug Knol – Shippensburg
Knol, in his 31st year as assistant coach at Shippensburg, coached the Red Raiders’ sprinters and hurdlers to account for 90 points at the PSAC Outdoor Championships, scoring 10 or more points in five events with 10 athletes. His sprinters won four events, including an all-time PSAC record in the 4×100 relay.
CENTRAL REGION – Jesse Miller – Pittsburg State
Miller, in his second year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, coached the Gorillas’ jumpers to account for 37 of the team’s 100 points in winning the team title at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His jumpers also scored 39.5 points at the MIAA Outdoor Championships, and his triple jump and high jump groups rated No. 1 in the national #EventSquad rankings.
EAST REGION – Brian Nill – Southern Connecticut
Nill, in his ninth year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached the Fighting Owls’ middle- and long-distance runners to score 47 of the team’s 240 points in winning the team title at the Northeast-10 Conference Outdoor Championships. His athletes scored in five events – 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000 and 4×800 relay.
MIDWEST REGION – Matt Conly – Grand Valley State
Conly, in his fifth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached the Lakers’ throwers to account for 32 of the team’s 39.5 points in finishing fourth at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including two titles in the shot put and discus by Erika Beistle. His throwing group scored 81 points at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Toni Cardenas – Lee (Tenn.)
Cardenas, in her first year as assistant coach at Lee (Tenn.), coached the Flames’ distance runners to account for 115 points in winning the team title at the Gulf South Conference Outdoor Championships, winning five events – 800, 1500, 5000, 10,000 and steeplechase. Her athletes earned two All-American honors and added 12 All-Region honors.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jocelyn Sparks – Colo. School of Mines
Sparks, in her 11th year as assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines, coached the Orediggers’ pole vaulters to a 1-4 finish at the RMAC Outdoor Championships, including the program’s first conference title. Four of her athletes competed at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships as the Orediggers had the No. 1 national pole vault #EventSquad.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kayonna Lewis – Lenoir-Rhyne
Lewis, in her third year as assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached the Bears’ Alexis Brown to win the 100 meters at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships while also setting the national record this season. She also coached the national championship 4×100 relay team as well as Holly Kone to Second Team All-American honors in the triple jump.
WEST REGION – Andrea Blackett – Azusa Pacific
Blackett, in her seventh year as Associate Head Coach at Azusa Pacific, coached the Cougars’ sprinters and hurdlers to top-5 finishes at the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the three events – 100 hurdles (second), 4×400 (fourth) and 4×100 (fifth). Her athletes scored 53 points in helping Azusa Pacific win the team title at the PacWest Conference Outdoor Championships.