Award History
NCAA DII ITF Regional Awards2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the eight regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both gender’s top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Tyson Williams – Johnson C. Smith
Williams, who hails from Charlotte, North Carolina, won the 200 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He crossed the finish line in 20.58, which is the fourth fastest mark in NCAA DII history. Earlier in the season, Williams won the 200 and finished runner-up in the 60 meters at the CIAA Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Mason Strader – Pittsburg State
Strader, who hails from Holton, Kansas, starred in mid-distance events this season. The Pittsburg State clocked the fifth fastest mile in NCAA DII history of 3:58.16 earlier in the season and then anchored the Gorillas’s distance medley relay to victory in an NCAA DII record 9:32.58 at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Strader also placed fourth in the mile at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
EAST REGION – Jordany Dely – New Haven
Dely, who hails from Spring Valley, New York, impressed as the only track athlete in the East Region to qualify for the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He placed fifth in the final of the 60-meter hurdles in a school-record 7.93 seconds. Earlier in the season, Dely helped New Haven finish second at the NE-10 Championships thanks to a fourth-place finish in the 400 meters and a tote on the runner-up 4×400 relay.
MIDWEST REGION – Joshua Page – Tiffin
Page, who hails from Columbus, Ohio, capped an undefeated season over 400 meters with a victory at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He also finished fourth in the 200 meters in Indianapolis, Indiana. His marks – 45.78 in the 400 and 20.85 in the 200 – were both PRs.
SOUTH REGION – Sam Wilhelm – Alabama-Huntsville
Wilhelm, who hails from Knob Knoster, Missouri, earned a pair of All-America honors at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He placed fifth in the 3000 meters with a school-record time of 7:52.70 and took ninth in the 5000 meters. Wilhelm was named the GSC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning the 3000 meter and anchoring the winning distance medley relay at the conference championships, among his other feats.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Romain Legendre – Adams State
Legendre, who hails from Carpentras, France, put a bow on a record-breaking season with a distance sweep at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He won both the 3000 meters and 5000 meters in meet-record efforts. Earlier in the season, Legendre demonstrated his prowess in those events as he shattered NCAA DII records in both – and etched his name amongst the best in collegiate history – with his 7:36.28 and 13:02.08 clockings.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Andre Morrison – Carson-Newman
Morrison, who hails from Spanish Town, Jamaica, won the 60 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He scorched the straightaway in 6.59 for what is the eighth fastest mark in NCAA DII history. Earlier in the season, Morrison won the 60 at the Music City Challenge.
WEST REGION – Joshua Caleb – Alaska Anchorage
Caleb, who hails from Okirka, Nigeria, took home a pair of First-Team All-America honors from the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He finished fourth in the 60 meters and sixth in the 200 meters. Caleb won both of those events at the GNAC Indoor Championships. He set PRs of 6.57 and 20.82 in those respective events as well this season.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Cole Gorham – East Stroudsburg
Gorham, who hails from Kingston, Pennsylvania, finished runner-up in the shot put at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He launched the implement PR 18.76m (61-6¾) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Earlier in the season, Gorham won the shot put crown at the PSAC Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Hunter Jones – Pittsburg State
Jones, who hails from Nickerson, Kansas, won the heptathlon at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He amassed 5730 points, which is the sixth best score in NCAA DII history – only 53 points off his personal best, which is the second best score. During the combined event, Jones cleared a provisional mark in the high jump of 2.13m (6-11¾).
EAST REGION – Cameron Belton – Southern Connecticut
Belton, who hails from Baltic, Connecticut, went undefeated in the shot put into the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, ultimately finishing third in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was during the season’s climactic meet where Belton set a PR of 18.54m (60-10) in the event.
MIDWEST REGION – Eli Kosiba – Grand Valley State
Kosiba, who hails from Rensselaer, Indiana, tied the NCAA DII high jump record of 2.30m (7-6½) at the Grand Valley State Holiday Open back in December. Fast forward to March and Kosiba won the event title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, which came just a few weeks after he finished runner-up at the USATF Indoor Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Aaron Nash – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Nash, who hails from Powhatan, Virginia, topped the regional chart in the long jump with a leap of 7.36m (24-1¾). He achieved that mark in his season debut and would go on to win the event title at the Peach Belt Conference Indoor Championships in mid-February.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Romet Vahter – West Texas A&M
Vahter, who hails from Kuressaare, Estonia, finished runner-up in the heptathlon at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He amassed a school-record 5545 points. Vahter pulled double duty in Indianapolis, Indiana, also competing in the long jump. Earlier in the season, Vahter won the long jump crown at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jesse Shelton – Mars Hill
Shelton, who hails from Mars Hill, North Carolina, finished eighth in the shot put at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Shelton doubled up on event titles – and PRs – with victories in both the shot put and weight throw at the SAC Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Yacouba Gnacko – Academy of Art
Gnacko, who hails from Paris, France, finished third in the triple jump at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He won three triple jump competitions in which he competed this season, including a podium-topping effort at the Last Chance National Qualifier in Boston.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Malcolm Watts – Claflin
Watts, in his second year as Head Coach at Claflin, led the Panthers to the team title at the 2025 CIAA Indoor Championships, winning four events. Claflin, which set program records in nine events this season, qualified two athletes to the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, including CIAA Male Athlete of the Year Jonathan Felmister.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, in his fourth year as Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Pittsburg State had 18 First-Team All-Americans across nine events while winning four events – 60-meter hurdles, heptathlon and the 4×400 and distance medley relays. The Gorillas also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships, winning nine events.
EAST REGION – John Wallin – Southern Connecticut
Wallin, in his 15th year as Head Coach at Southern Connecticut, led the Fighting Owls to the team title at the 2025 NE-10 Indoor Championships, winning six events. His athletes combined for eight individual and one relay provisional qualifiers to the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, with Cameron Belton finishing third.
MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State
Baltes, in his 26th year as Head Coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a runner-up team finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, with national titles in the shot put and high jump, the latter leading a 1-2-3 sweep. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, winning 12 events and scoring 256 points.
SOUTH REGION – David Cain – Alabama-Huntsville
Cain, in his 25th year as Head Coach at Alabama-Huntsville, led the Chargers to the team title at the 2025 Gulf South Conference Indoor Championships, winning seven events. Alabama-Huntsville, which set six program records this season, had NCAA DII All-Americans in the 3000 meters and distance medley relay.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Matt Sparks – Colo. School of Mines
Sparks, in his 12th year as Head Coach at Colorado School of Mines, led the Orediggers to a third-place finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning First-Team All-America honors in six events. Colorado School of Mines also finished team runner-up in the RMAC Indoor Championships, winning six events.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jacqueline Kirby – Wingate
Kirby, in her third year as Head Coach at Wingate, led the Bulldogs to a seventh-place finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, led by a title in the mile from Titouan Le Grix. Wingate, the No. 1 team in the Southeast Region, also won the team title at the SAC Indoor Championships, winning four events.
WEST REGION – Kevin LaSure – Academy of Art
LaSure, in his 10th year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Academy of Art, led the Urban Knights to a No. 1 ranking in the West Region, finishing 18th at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. Academy of Arts, which set two program records this season, qualified six athletes to the nationals and earned All-America honors in three events.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Jim Morrison – East Stroudsburg
Morrison, in his 26th year as assistant coach at East Stroudsburg, coached two Warrior throwers to titles at the 2025 PSAC Indoor Championships – Cole Gorham in the shot put and Anthony Voto in the weight throw, both No. 1 in the Atlantic Region. Both earned All-America honors at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships, with Gorham finishing as runner-up.
CENTRAL REGION – Wick Cunningham – Northwest Missouri
Cunningham, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Northwest Missouri, coached Bearcat distance runners to combine for 77 of the team’s 119 points at the MIAA Indoor Championships, winning three events. His athletes earned seven All-America honors at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships across five events in leading the team to a fifth-place finish.
EAST REGION – Bernardo Mbaya – Southern Connecticut
Mbaya, in his first year as assistant coach at Southern Connecticut, coached two Fighting Owl throwers to qualify for the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with his top athlete, Cameron Belton, finishing third. His throwing group combined for 29 points at the NE-10 Indoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Steve Jones – Grand Valley State
Jones, in his 17th year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, coached the Lakers’ high jumpers to a 1-2-3-6 finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships as five of his athletes competed, plus one in the long jump. His high jumpers were led by Eli Kosiba, who equaled the DII record of 2.30m (7-6½) this season, and Jaivon Harrison, who is No. =9 all-time DII at 2.23m (7-3¾).
SOUTH REGION – Jacob Bishop – Alabama-Huntsville
Bishop, in his second year as assistant coach at Alabama-Huntsville, coached Charger distance runners to earn a school-record time of 9:41.03 in the distance medley relay, winning the the GSC Indoor title and qualifying for the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His top athlete, Sam Wilhelm, set program records in the 3000 and 5000 meters.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Scott Van Sickle – Colo. School of Mines
Van Sickle, in his 29th year as assistant coach at Colorado School of Mines, coached Orediggers to program records in the 400 meters and 4×400 and distance medley relays, helping the team finish a program-best third place at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes won RMAC Indoor titles in the 400 and 800 meters.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jerrodd Williams – Catawba
Williams, in his first year as assistant coach at Catawba, coached two Indian sprinters to the final of the 60 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, with Winfred Porter earning runner-up honors. His sprint crew contributed 35 of the team’s 60 points at the SAC Indoor Championships.
WEST REGION – Andrea Blackett – Azusa Pacific
Blackett, in her eighth year as Associate Head Coach at Azusa Pacific, coached Maxime Wassmer to a No. 5 ranking in the 400 meters at 46.85.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Anna Igims – Slippery Rock
Igims, who hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, finished the season ranked No. 1 in the Atlantic Region across four events: the mile, 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and distance medley relay. She took home wins in three of the four – choosing to forgo the 5000 meters – at the 2025 PSAC Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Joy Udo-Gabriel – Missouri Southern
Udo-Gabriel, who hails from Abia, Nigeria, shone across 60 meters this season, breaking the NCAA DII record twice on the way to a national title – in a championship record time of 7.11 – at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She first took down the 60-meter record at the MIAA Indoor Championships, where she ran 7.13 to win the final.
EAST REGION – Hannah Caiola – Southern Connecticut
Caiola, who hails from Glastonbury, Connecticut, kicked off her indoor season by setting an NCAA DII record in the 300 meters, going 38.17. She followed that up with the No. 3 all-time performance in the 500 meters, running 1:12.00. At the 2025 NE-10 Indoor Championships, Caiola shifted to the 200 meters and 400 meters double, taking home wins in both. She eventually earned Second-Team All-America honors in the 400 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
MIDWEST REGION – Collinique Farrington – Southwest Baptist
Farrington, who hails from Freeport, Bahamas, finished runner-up in the 200 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. In the 400 meters, she finished one spot back in third place, gathering a second All-America honor. At the 2025 GLVC Indoor Championships she was named Track Athlete of the Year after scoring 22.5 points, with wins in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and a leg on the winning 4x400m relay. Earlier in the season she set a NCAA DII all-conditions best in the 300 meters, running 37.64.
SOUTH REGION – Aria Hawkins – Lee (Tenn.)
Hawkins, who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, recorded a third place finish in the 3000 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. That paired well with anchoring the sixth place distance medley relay to give her two First-Team All-America honors. Hawkins concluded the season ranked No. 1 in the South Region across four events: 800 meters, mile, 3000 meters, and as part of the distance medley relay.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Helen Braybrook – CSU Pueblo
Braybrook, who hails from Frieston, United Kingdom, won the 800 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She traversed the distance in 2:04.72 for the fifth fastest time in NCAA DII history. Earlier in the season, she set the No. 3 all-time mark of 2:03.90 in the event and posted the No. 2 all-time mark in the 600 meters at 1:30.40. Braybrook was also named USTFCCCA M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week twice this year.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne
Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, obliterated a longstanding NCAA DII record in the 200 meters at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. It was in the prelims, where Brown turned one lap in 22.98 to become the first woman in NCAA DII history to go sub-23 seconds. Then, Brown improved that mark to 22.28 in winning the final. Earlier in the meet, Brown finished runner-up in the 60 meters with a PR 7.18. Brown also starred at the SAC Indoor Championships, where she completed the 60-200 double.
WEST REGION – Rasha Badrani – Cal State San Marcos
Badrani, who hails from San Marcos, California, won the 400-meter national title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She became the eighth fastest performer in NCAA DII history in the event earlier in the season, recording a 52.81. Badrani also ranked top-5 in In the West Region across 200 meters.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Laura Delgado de Torres – Charleston (W.Va.)
Delgado de Torres scored 27 points in field events at the 2025 MEC Indoor Championships. She finished runner-up in three events (long jump, triple jump, pentathlon) and fifth in another (high jump). Delgado de Torres finished the year ranked top-four in three events regionally.
CENTRAL REGION – Miranda Lauvstad – Minnesota State
Lauvstad, who hails from Nesoeya, Norway, earned a pair of First-Team All-America honors in field events at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She finished runner-up in the pentathlon with 4092 points – to move up to No. 9 in NCAA DII history – and also placed fourth in the long jump. Lauvstad was ranked top-three nationally in both of those events this season.
EAST REGION – Belle Smith – Southern Connecticut
Smith, who hails from Torrington, Connecticut, was named the NE-10 Conference Indoor Championship Field Athlete of the Meet after winning both the shot put and weight throw. Those 20 points went a long way in helping Southern Connecticut win its second indoor conference title in a row. Smith led the region in the shot put this season at 13.20m (43-3¾).
MIDWEST REGION – Kaylee Diamond – Grand Valley State
Diamond, who hails from Grand Rapids, Michigan, won the high jump at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She cleared PR 1.81m (5-11¼) in Indianapolis, Indiana. That set a GLIAC record and improved her own GVSU school record that was originally set back in December and took down a 32-year-old best.
SOUTH REGION – Mikaela Miles – Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Miles, who hails from San Diego, California, finished third in the triple jump at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She set a PR 12.70 (41-8) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Miles improved her own school record three times this season.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Meadow Gallentine – West Texas A&M
Gallentine, who hails from Anson, Texas, won the weight throw at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. She set PR 20.48m (67-2¼) in Indianapolis, Indiana. Earlier in the season, Gallentine won the weight throw and placed third in the shot put at the Lone Star Conference Indoor Championships and helped lead West Texas A&M to the team title.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Sterling Webb – Lincoln Memorial
Webb, who hails from Mt. Juliet, Tennessee,won the pentathlon with a meet-record score of 3670 points at the SAC Indoor Championships. She led the region in both the combined event and the high jump with a mark of 1.69m (5-6½) that she set inside that pentathlon.
WEST REGION – Esther Conde Turpin – Azusa Pacific
Conde Turpin, who hails from La Reunion, France, set a meet record of 4447 points in winning the pentathlon at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. That was also the second best total in NCAA DII history. Conde Turpin ended the season ranked among the nation’s best in both the pentathlon and high jump – the latter with a 1.78m (5-10) clearance.
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Bill Jordan – Slippery Rock
Jordan, in his third year as Head Coach at Slippery Rock, led The Rock to the team title at the 2025 PSAC Indoor Championships, winning seven events. Slippery Rock had 11 athletes earn a total of 17 All-Region awards and had the only PSAC athlete qualify for the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Kyle Rutledge – Pittsburg State
Rutledge, in his fourth year as Director of Cross Country and Track & Field at Pittsburg State, led the Gorillas to the team title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning 20 First-Team All-America honors. Pittsburg State also won the team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships, winning eight events and scoring a meet-record 222 points.
EAST REGION – Shaunnaya Williams – New Haven
Williams, in her 15th year as Director of Cross Country/Track & Field at New Haven, led the Chargers to a program-best runner-up team finish at the 2025 Northeast-10 Indoor Championships. Her athletes included the NE-10 Field Athlete of the Year (Jada Kamtha) and Rookie of the Year (Wilnye Joseph).
MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State [Lakers]
Baltes, in his 26th year as Head Coach at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers to a third-place team finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, winning titles in the 3000 meters and high jump. Grand Valley State also won the team title at the GLIAC Indoor Championships, winning 10 events.
SOUTH REGION – LaShaunda Easterling – Tuskegee
Easterling, in her fourth year as Head Coach at Tuskegee, led the Golden Tigers to the team title at the SIAC Indoor Championships, winning nine events while scoring 242 points. Her team won the title by 113 points.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Damon Martin – Adams State
Martin, in his 35th year as Director of Cross Country and Track and Field at Adams State, led the Grizzlies to a fourth-place team finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes earned nine individual First-Team All-America honors along with the distance medley relay team.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Paris Vaughan – Lenoir-Rhyne
Vaughan, in his second year as Head Coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a ninth-place team finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes were led by a pair of First-Team All-Americans in sprinter Alexis Brown and hurdler Melody Jones, with Brown clocking the two fastest 200-meter times in DII history.
WEST REGION – Jack Hoyt – Azusa Pacific
Hoyt, in his eighth year as Director of Track & Field at Azusa Pacific, led the Cougars to a fifth-place team finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes earned six All-America honors, led by national champions Hannah Richardson (shot put) and Esther Conde-Turpin (pentathlon, with No. 2 score in DII history at 4447).
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Bobby Over – Slippery Rock
Over, in his third year as assistant coach at Slippery Rock, coached distance runners at The Rock to combine for 52 points in winning the team title at the 2025 PSAC Indoor Championships. His athletes included Anna Igims, the team’s only athlete to qualify for the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
CENTRAL REGION – Jesse Miller – Pittsburg State
Miller, in his third year as assistant coach at Pittsburg State, coached Gorilla jumpers and mutli-eventers to contribute 31 of the team’s 63 points in winning the team title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes also accounted for 74.5 points in helping Pittsburg State’s team title at the MIAA Indoor Championships.
EAST REGION – Jennifer Suhr – Roberts Wesleyan
Suhr, in her second year as Director of Pole Vault at Roberts Wesleyan, coached Bryn King to the pole vault title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, winning by over 20cm at a meet-record 4.66m (15-3½). Her crew had another First-Team All-American in Sarah Ferguson.
MIDWEST REGION – Alan Peterson – Grand Valley State
Peterson, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Grand Valley State, oversaw and assisted the Lakers’ mid-distance/distance crew that had seven individual entries to the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. His athletes contributed 28 of Grand Valley State’s 47 points in finishing third in the NCAA DII team standings.
SOUTH REGION – Scott Byrd – Alabama-Huntsville
Byrd, in his third year as assistant coach at Alabama-Huntsville, coached Charger athletes to account for 101 of the team’s 189 in finishing second as a team in the GSC Indoor Championships. His top athlete, Jordyn Dortch, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 200 meters and was GSC champ in the 60 and 200.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alec Duncan – Adams State
Duncan, in his third year as assistant coach at Adams State, is the main point of contact for the Grizzlies’ distance squad, which scored all 40 of the team’s points in finishing fourth as a team at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kayonna Lewis – Lenoir-Rhyne
Lewis, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached two First-Team All-Americans in sprinter Alexis Brown and hurdler Melody Jones. Brown posted the two fastest 200-meter times in DII history – 22.88 and 22.98, the only sub-23 times in DII history.
WEST REGION – James Jones – Azusa Pacific
Jones, in his seventh year as assistant coach at Azusa Pacific, coached the Cougars’ Hannah Richardson to the shot put title at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. The Cougars’ shot put group rated No. 4 in the national #EventSquad Rankings.