Award History
NAIA ITF National Awards2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
These awards were voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Gainesville, Florida, based off performances at that meet, as well as throughout the rest of the season.
Only athletes and coaches from member institutions are eligible to win awards.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Briana Campbell of Life (Ga.) was named the 2025 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Campbell, who hails from Spanish Town, Jamaica, set two NAIA records and scored 28 points at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Gainesville, Florida. The Life (Ga.) standout captured national titles in both the 60-meter hurdles and 200 meters with her record-breaking 8.09 and 23.59 efforts, respectively, and finished runner-up in the 60 meters in 7.34. Earlier in the season, Campbell amassed 30 points at the SSAC Indoor Championships with a clean sweep of all three events.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Payton Mauldin of Dordt (Iowa) was named the 2025 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Track Athlete of the Year. Mauldin, who hails from George, Iowa, stood out 400 meters and 600 meters at a time this season. The Dordt (Iowa) standout established an NAIA record in the former with his 46.38 clocking back in February at the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Nebraska. Then, at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Mauldin notched the second- and third-fastest marks in NAIA history in the 600 meters with his 1:16.11 winner and his 1:16.72 effort in the prelims. Mauldin scored 22.5 points at the 2025 GPAC Indoor Championships thanks to a 200-600 sweep and a leg on the winning 4×400 relay.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Zontavius Johnson of Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) was named the 2025 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Johnson, in his third year as assistant coach with the Tigers, oversaw dynamic performances through the season by his hurdlers and sprinters. Hannah Antkoviak shined brightest with her NAIA record in the 600 meters of 1:29.49 that also made her the tenth fastest woman in collegiate history. Johnson’s athletes scored all of ONU’s 32 points at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships with 16.5 coming from Antkoviak thanks to a victory in the 600 meters, a fourth-place showing in the 60-meter hurdles, as well as a tote on the winning 4×400 relay.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Mychal Vinson of Marian (Ind.) was named the 2025 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Assistant Coach of the Year. Vinson, in his fourth year with the Knights, saw his athletes amass 23 points at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships to help lead the program to its first national team title in program history. Included in that showing was a 2-3-5 finish in the 600 meters with Olivier Lifrange, Eric Materna, and Richard Dube in those respective spots. Earlier in the season, Marian (Ind.)’s mid-distance/distance athletes snagged seven event titles at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships.
National Women's Coach of the Year
Bradley Sowder of Cumberlands (Ky.) was named the 2025 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Sowder, in his fourth year with the Patriots, led his charges to the team title at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Cumberlands (Ky.) held off a strong challenge from Doane (Neb.), Madonna (Mich.) and Life (Ga.) to win the crown by ten points. Sowder’s athletes scored points across nine events, including runner-up finishes in the heptathlon, long jump, and the 3000-meter race walk. Earlier in the season, the Patriots dominated the proceedings at the Mid-South Indoor Championships winning with 256 points.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Katie Wise of Marian (Ind.) was named the 2025 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Coach of the Year. Wise, in her first year with the Knights, led the program to its first national team title in program history at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Marian (Ind.) had a balanced attack in Gainesville, Florida, scoring across 11 events with victories in both the 4×400 and distance medley relays, plus a runner-up finish in the 4×800 relay. Earlier in the season, the Knights romped to victory at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships where they scored a meet-record 315 points with 13 event titles.
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Sydney Duncan of IU Kokomo (Ind.) was named the 2025 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Duncan, who hails from Anderson, Indiana, obliterated her own NAIA record in the shot put with her winning 17.60m (57-9) heave at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Gainesville, Florida. The IU Kokomo standout notched each of the top-seven throws in NAIA history this season and improved her NAIA record on three different occasions from 16.46m (54-0) in December eventually to 17.60m (57-9).
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Robert Atwater of Midland (Neb.) was named the 2025 NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year. Atwater, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, led the nation in three field events entering the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships: heptathlon, high jump, and long jump. The Midland (Neb.) standout scored in all three in Gainesville, Florida, including a national title in the heptathlon with PR 5396 points that also made him the third best performer in NAIA history. Atwater also finished second in the triple jump, third in the high jump, and sixth in the long jump.