Award History
NJCAA ITF National Awards2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS — Here are the National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field season!
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Trevon Hamer of Barton (Kan.) CC was named the 2025 NJCAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Hamer, who hails from Georgetown, Guyana, won the triple jump and finished runner-up in the long jump at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Lubbock, Texas. Both of his marks were PRs: 16.47m (54-0½) in the triple jump that made him the sixth best performer in NJCAA history; and 7.75m (25-5¼) in the long jump that was an all-conditions best for him by more than six inches. Earlier in the season, Hamer posted similar finishes at the Region 6 Indoor Championships.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Maimuna Jallow of Cloud County (Kan.) was named the 2025 NJCAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Jallow, who hails from Sare-Futa, Gambia, starred at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships with record-breaking efforts in both the 60 meters and 200 meters. The Cloud County (Kan.) standout obliterated two, 23-year-old NJCAA records formerly held by Veronica Campbell: 7.19 to win the 60 meters, compared to 7.26; and 22.86 to win the 200 meters, which came one day after she equaled Campbell’s former best of 23.27 in the prelims. Jallow ended the season with three of the top-6 marks in NJCAA history in the 60 meters and two of the top-3 in the 200 meters.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Bovel McPherson of New Mexico JC was named the 2025 NJCAA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. McPherson, who hails from Manchester, Jamaica, put a stamp on his indoor season with a record-breaking effort at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Lubbock, Texas. The New Mexico JC standout shattered a 14-year-old NJCAA record in the 400 meters with his 45.58 clocking in the final. McPherson also notched the now-fourth fastest mark in NJCAA history in the prelims of 46.01. He ended the season with three of the top-5 efforts in NJCAA history, also counting his 45.93 mark from mid-February.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Marc Bierbaum was named the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. Bierbaum, in his seventh year coaching the Reivers’ distance runners, guided athletes to account for 69 of Iowa Western’s 114 points in winning the team title. His group was led by Juliana Sakat, who won four events – 1000, mile, 3000, 5000 – and anchored the runner-up distance medley squad in accounting for 42 points.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Jim VanHootegem was named the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year. VanHootegem, in his second year coaching the Texans’ sprinters, horizontal jumpers and relay runners, guided athletes to 11 All-American awards at NJCAA Indoor Championships. His sprinters led a 1-2-3 sweep in the 200 meters and won the 4×400 relay in a meet-record 3:06.10 while his athletes overall contributed 59 of the Texans’ 119.5 points in winning the team title.
National Women's Coach of the Year
David Burnett was named the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field co-National Women’s Coach of the Year. Burnett, in his third year as Head Coach at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Iowa Western scored in 13 events, winning five. The Reivers’ champs were led by Juliana Sakat’s four individual titles with Mercy Honesty adding a repeat victory in the triple jump with a lifetime best (13.11m/43-0¼) to move to No. 5 all-time among NJCAA athletes.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Wes Miller was named the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field National Men’s Coach of the Year. Miller, in his first year as head coach at South Plains (Texas), led the Texans to the team title at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. South Plains scored 119.5 points – scoring in 13 events with six event titles and three runner-up finishes. His athletes included the meet’s only double winner (Hamdani Benahmed in the 1000 meters and mile) and Isaiah Patrick, who set an NJCAA record this year in the 60-meters hurdles (7.60).
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Celine Riddle of Barton (Kan.) CC was named the 2025 NJCAA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Riddle, who hails from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, capped a stellar season with 18 points at the 2025 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a win in the long jump and a runner-up finish in the triple jump. Both marks were PRs for Riddle, as she soared 6.21m (20-4½) in the long jump and bounded 12.60m (41-4¼) in the triple jump. Earlier in the season, Riddle swept the horizontal jumps at the Region 6 Indoor Championships.