Award History
NJCAA DI OTF National Awards2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Awards
National Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Cedricka Williams was named the National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Williams, who hails from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, won the discus at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, twice raising her own NJCAA record in the process. It was the fifth and sixth time this year that she improved her record, and her efforts there noteworthy in NJCAA history with the first over 60 meters – Round 1 at 60.23m (197-7) – before the first over 200 feet – Round 3 at 61.07m (200-4). She also scored in the hammer with a PR 52.79m (173-2) for third place.
National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Shamar Reid was named the National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Reid, who hails from Jamaica, swept the shot put and discus at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with efforts of 17.39m (57-0¾) and 60.45m (198-4), respectively. Earlier in the season he posted NJCAA-leading throws of 18.06m (59-3) and 61.17m (200-8), respectively, with his discus mark making him No. 7 all-time among NJCAA athletes.
National Women's Track Athlete of the Year
Maimuna Jallow was named the National Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Jallow, who hails from Sare-Futa, Gambia, swept the 100 and 200 meters at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships with times of 11.56 and 22.92, respectively. Her time in the 200 matched her seasonal-leading mark that made her No. 3 all-time among NJCAA athletes. Her 100 seasonal best of 11.18 two weeks prior was the fastest by an NJCAA athlete since 2003 and made her No. 4 all-time NJCAA. She also ran a leg on Cloud County’s victorious 4×400 that clocked 3:34.05 in becoming the No. 2 program in NJCAA history.
National Men's Track Athlete of the Year
Mohammed El Youssfi was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. El Youssfi, who hails from Morocco, swept the 5000 and 10,000 meters in dominant fashion at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. After missing most of the outdoor season with injury, he won the 10,000 on Thursday evening, bolting to an early lead and running alone to break a 38-year-old NJCAA record in 28:32.04 while winning by more than a minute. He returned two days later to claim the 5000 in 13:56.82, breaking the meet record by nearly 10 seconds in winning by over 18 seconds while becoming No. 3 all-time in NJCAA history.
National Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
Ted Schmitz was named the National Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Schmitz, in his 43rd year as assistant coach of sprints, middle distances, relays and high jump at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, coached athletes who accounted for 69.33 of the Thunderbirds’ 82.33 in finishing fourth at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Two of his athletes combined for three individual national titles – Maimuna Jallow in the 100 and 200 and Rafiatu Nuhu in the 400 – and his 4×400 and 4×800 teams also won national titles.
National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Jim VanHootegem was named the National Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. VanHootegem, in his second year as assistant coach of sprints, relays and horizontal jumps at South Plains, coached athletes who contributed 59 of the Texans’ 119 in winning the team title at the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His top athlete, Denzel Simusialela, swept the 100 and 200 meters and ran the second leg on the winning 4×100 relay.
National Women's Coach of the Year
David Burnett was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Burnett, in his third year as head coach at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title at 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Iowa Western won four events and placed second in another, scoring 98 points in outperforming their No. 3 national ranking entering the meet. The Reivers were led by Juliana Sakat, who accounted for 31.5 points in sweeping the 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters while also anchoring the third-place 4×800 relay team.
National Men's Coach of the Year
Wes Miller was named the National Men’s Coach of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. Miller, in his first year as head coach at South Plains, led the Texans to the team title at 2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships. South Plains won five events and placed second in two events to tally 119 points. It was the fifth-straight year with at least a share of the national outdoor team title for the Texans.