Award History
NAIA XC Regional Awards2024 NAIA Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NAIA Cross Country season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Many of these athletes and coaches will end their season on Friday, November 22, at the 2024 NAIA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. The meet will be held at the Gans Creek Cross Country Course
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Eli Fullerton — Indiana Wesleyan
Fullerton won individual titles at three major meets this season: the Crossroads League Championships in 24:52.7; the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in 24:12.6; and the Ray Bullock Invitational in 24:56.2. He also took top individual honors at the IWU Twilight Invitational.
MIDWEST REGION — Isaac Sytsma — Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Sytsma won two individual titles this year: the CCAC Championships in 24:45.8 and the NAIA Seminole Valley Stampede in 24:37.6. Mixed in amongst those performances was a sixth place finish at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in 24:41.9.
SOUTH REGION — Bryn Woodall — Milligan (Tenn.)
Woodall has three victories to his name this season: AAC Championships in 23:56.4; the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in 23:20.7; and the Brevard XC Classic in 24:41.1. He finished top-10 in each of the other two races in which he competed.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Evert Silva — Oklahoma City
Silva won the individual title at the Sooner Athletic Conference Championships in 24:36.6. Earlier in the season, Silva clocked the fastest time by an NAIA athlete of 22:25.9 at the Arturo Barrios Invitational in College Station, Texas.
WEST REGION — Daniel Butler — College of Idaho
Butler is undefeated this season, most recently winning the individual title at the Cascade Conference Championships in 24:12.9. He also took top individual honors at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in 23:56.0, the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational in 23:47.4 and the Cascade Conference Preview in 24:32.7.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Bryan Burk — Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Burk, in his fifth year as head coach at Spring Arbor (Mich.), led the Cougars to the team title at the Crossroads League Championships with 58 points. Spring Arbor also won the team title at the Bethel (Ind.) Invitational with 27 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Nate Wolf — Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his 10th year as head coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the team title at the GPAC Championships with 41 points. Dordt also won team titles at the Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic with 34 points and Sunflower Opener with 22 points.
SOUTH REGION — Chris Layne — Milligan (Tenn.)
Layne, in his 26th year as head coach at Milligan (Tenn.), led the Buffs to the team title at the AAC Championships with 26 points. Milligan also won team titles at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge with 74 points and Brevard XC Classic with 15 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Alstin Benton — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Benton, in his 12th year as head coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Championships with 22 points. Saint Mary also won the team title at the Spire Sunset Showdown with 25 points.
WEST REGION — Dominic Bolin — College of Idaho
Bolin, in his third year as head coach at College of Idaho, led the Yotes to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 24 points. College of Idaho also won team titles at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic with 31 points, Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational with 43 points and Cascade Conference Preview with 31 points.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Jaynie Halterman — Taylor (Ind.)
Halterman is undefeated this season with five wins to her credit. She most recently took top individual honors at the Crossroads League Championships in 20:36.9. Earlier in the season, Halterman won individual titles at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge in 16:57.8, the Ray Bullock Invitational in 21:52.6, the Gans Creek Classic in 20:56.7, and the IWU Twilight Invitational in 21:58.2.
MIDWEST REGION — Corinne Braun — Dordt (Iowa)
Braun won four out of the five meets in which she competed this season. Most recently, Braun took top individual honors at the GPAC Championships in 22:43.2. Earlier in the season, Braun placed first at the Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic in 21:52.6, the Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcat Classic in 23:05.7, and the Dordt Sunflower Opener in 18:40.8.
SOUTH REGION — Heather Murphy — Montreat (N.C.)
Murphy is undefeated through two races this season. She most recently took top individual honors at the AAC Championships in 20:33.4, just a few weeks after winning the NAIA Appalachian Challenge in 17:18.5.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Reagan Hiebert — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Hiebert won two individual titles this season and virtually tied for another. The senior was first across the finish line at both the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in 21:31.4 and the Spire Sunset Showdown in 18:29.2, while matching the time of teammate Kate Madsen at the KCAC Championships in 22:55.2.
WEST REGION — Hannah Fredericks — The Master’s (Calif.)
Fredericks has four wins this season, most recently at the GSAC Championships in 21:29.7. Earlier in the season, Fredericks took top individual honors at The Master’s University Invitational in 21:07.1, the Larry Young Invitational in 17:36.7, and the Biola (Calif.) Invitational in 17:03.3.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Quinn White — Taylor (Ind.)
White, in his 15th year as head coach at Taylor (Ind.), led the Trojans to the team title at the Crossroads League Championships with 29 points. Taylor (Ind.) also won team titles at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge with 27 points, Ray Bullock Invitational with 23 points and IWU Twilight Invitational with 29 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Nate Wolf — Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his 10th year as head coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the team title at the GPAC Championships with 18 points. Dordt (Iowa) also won team titles at the Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic with 20 points, Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcat Classic with 15 points and Sunflower Opener with 15 points.
SOUTH REGION — Andy Knapp — SCAD Savannah (Ga.)
Knapp, in his sixth year as head coach at SCAD Savannah (Ga.), led the Bees to the team title at The Sun Conference Championships with 15 points. SCAD Savannah (Ga.) enters the NAIA Championships ranked tenth in the National Coaches’ Poll, tying its best position in program history.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Alstin Benton — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Benton, in his 12th year as head coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), led the Spires to the team title at the KCAC Championships with 15 points. Saint Mary (Kan.) also won team titles at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic with 30 points and Spire Sunset Showdown with 17 points.
WEST REGION — Dominic Bolin — College of Idaho
Bolin, in his third year as head coach at College of Idaho, led the Yotes to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 25 points. College of Idaho also won the team title at the Cascade Conference Preview with 21 points.