Award History
NJCAA DII XC National Awards2024 NJCAA Division II Cross Country National Awards
National Women's Coach of the Year
Dan Pescador was named the 2024 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Coach of the Year. Pescador coached Mesa (Ariz.) CC to the team title at the 2024 NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Led by individual sixth-place finisher Kinley Jackson, the Thunderbirds scored 51 points to win by 16 points as all five scorers finished in the top-19. Mesa also won the Region 1 Championships with 27 points.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Jim Robinson was named the 2024 NJCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Coach of the Year. Robinson coached Lansing (Mich.) CC to the team title at the 2024 NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Led by individual eighth-place finisher Logan Zahn, the Stars scored 66 points to win by 36 points as all five scorers finished in the top-21 – and within 29.4 seconds of each other. Lansing also won the Region 12 Championships with 21 points.
National Women's Athlete of the Year
Nora Brady was named the 2024 NJCAA DII Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year. Brady, who hails from Normal, Illinois, captured the individual title at the 2024 NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Mechanicsville, Virginia. The Heartland (Ill.) CC star crossed the finish line in 17:34.6, more than 43 seconds faster than the runner-up. Brady won four of the five meets in which she competed this season.
National Men's Athlete of the Year
Jackson Bland was named the 2024 NJCAA DII Men’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year. Bland, who hails from Surprise, Arizona, captured the individual title at the 2024 NJCAA DII Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Mechanicsville, Virginia. The Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC star crossed the finish line in 25:14.0, more than 13 seconds faster than the runner-up. Bland also turned in strong performances this season at the UCR Cross Country Invitational and Drews/Neubauer Invitational, where he finished in fourth and 14th place, respectively, mostly among athletes from four-year programs.