Award History
NJCAA DI OTF Regional Awards2025 NJCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Here are the Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field season!
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Mehdi Guerrah – Essex County (N.J.)
Guerrah, who hails from Irvington, New York, is ranked third nationally in the 400-meter hurdles at 51.07. That is the highest national ranking out of any male track athlete in the region.
CENTRAL REGION – Daniel Aboagye – Garden City (Kan.) CC
Aboagye, who hails from Cape Coast, Ghana, is ranked ninth nationally in the 800 meters at 1:50.97. He broke three school records at Garden City (Kan.) this season, including those in the 800 meters and 1500 meters.
MIDWEST REGION – Barnabas Ndiwa – Iowa Western CC
Ndiwa, who hails from Trans Nzoia West, Kenya, is ranked first nationally in the 10,000 meters at 28:52.64, a time that also ranks second in NJCAA history. He is also ranked fourth nationally in the 5000 meters at 14:03.94.
WEST REGION – Denzel Simusialela – South Plains (Texas)
Simusialela, who hails from Zimbabwe, is the all-conditions collegiate leader in the 200 meters with his wind-aided 19.97 clocking at the SPC Texan Invitational. He also is ranked second in the nation in the 100 meters at 10.11 and toted the baton on the nation-leading 4×100 relay.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Nafew Mohammed – Essex County (N.J.)
Mohammed, who hails from Newark, New Jersey, is ranked second nationally in the javelin at 69.03m (226-6). He took down school records in both the javelin and shot put this season.
CENTRAL REGION – Trevon Hamer – Barton (Kan.) CC
Hamer, who hails from Georgetown, Guyana, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump and third nationally in the long jump. His 16.30m (53-4¾) effort in the triple jump puts him 13th in NJCAA history. Hamer swept both horizontal jumps at the Region VI Outdoor Championships.
MIDWEST REGION – Tafadzwa Chikomba – Meridian (Miss.) CC
Chikomba, who hails from Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, is ranked first nationally in the long jump and carries an undefeated season into the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His season best in the long jump of 8.10m (26-0) is fourth among all collegiate athletes this season.
WEST REGION – Shamar Reid – South Plains (Texas)
Reid, who hails from Jamaica, is ranked first nationally in both the discus and shot put. His 61.17m (200-8) effort in the discus tops the nation and put him No. 7 on the NJCAA all-time chart, while his 18.06m (59-3) PR in the shot put came at the Texas Relays in March.
Men’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Tyler Steigenga – Vincennes (Ind.)
Steigenga, in his first year as Head Coach at Vincennes (Ind.), led the Trailblazers to a No. 1 team ranking in the Atlantic Region. Vincennes posted region-leading marks in seven events – 1500, 5000, 10,000, 4×800 relay, high jump, pole vault and decathlon – with No. 2 marks in four more events – 200, 800, steeplechase and 110 hurdles.
CENTRAL REGION – Robert Spies – Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
Spies, in his fifth year as Head Coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) CC, led the Blue Dragons to the team title at the Region 6 Outdoor Championships with 135 points, winning four events. Hutchinson is ranked No. 8 nationally.
MIDWEST REGION – David Burnett – Iowa Western CC
Burnett, in his third year as Head Coach at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title at the Region 11 Outdoor Championships, winning 11 events. Iowa Western, which set two program records, amassed 45 individual national qualifying spots this season along with all three relays.
WEST REGION – Wes Miller – South Plains (Texas)
Miller, in his first year as Head Coach at South Plains, led the Texans to a No. 1 team national ranking. South Plains has national-leading marks in five events – 200, 800, 4×100 relay, shot put and discus – and 16 marks in the national top-3.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Shanique McKenzie-Daniel – Monroe-New Rochelle (N.Y.)
McKenzie-Daniel, in her first year as assistant coach at Monroe-New Rochellete (N.Y.), coached Mustang athletes to national qualifying marks and top-2 regional rankings across eight events – 200, 400, 800, 1500, steeplechase, 5000, 4×400 relay and 4×800 relays. Her 4×400 sqaud set a program record of 3:12.47 at the Penn Relays.
CENTRAL REGION – Tre Lathan – Coffeyville (Kan.) CC
Lathan, in his third year as assistant coach at Coffeyville (Kan.) CC, coached Red Raven athletes to score 57 of the team’s 84 points at the Region 6 Championships. His group earned titles in the 400 and 4×400 relay, the latter with a program record 3:07.42.
MIDWEST REGION – Marc Bierbuam – Iowa Western CC
Bierbaum, in his seventh year as Director of Track and Field at Iowa Western CC, coached Reiver distance runners to program records in two events – steeplechase and 10,000. His crew won three events at the Region 11 Outdoor Championships and totaled 22 individual national qualifying marks along with one relay.
WEST REGION – Jim VanHootegem – South Plains (Texas)
VanHootegem, in his second year as assistant coach at South Plains (Texas), coached 12 Texan athletes to top-3 regional rankings. His athletes have nation-leading marks in the 200 and 4×100 relay and 13 in the top-8 nationally.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Daisy Speet – Lansing (Mich.) CC
Speet, who hails from Coopersville, Michigan, is ranked first regionally in both the 800 meters and 1500 meters, and sits third regionally in the 5000 meters. Her 2:11.17 PR in the 800 meters set a school record and currently ranks her 12th nationally.
CENTRAL REGION – Maimuna Jallow – Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Jallow, who hails from Sare-Futa, Gambia, etched her name into the record book at the Region VI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She completed the 100-200 double with wind-legal times of 11.18 and 22.92, which rank fourth and third, respectively, on the NJCAA all-time chart.
MIDWEST REGION – Juliana Sakat – Iowa Western CC
Sakat, who hails from Greater Accra Region, Ghana, has been a force this season. She opened her outdoor campaign with an NJCAA record of 33:23.71 over 10,000 meters at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Then, Sakat anchored Iowa Western CC to an NJCAA record in the distance medley relay of 11:53.10 at the Drake Relays. Most recently, Sakat scored 22.5 points at the Region 11 Outdoor Championships by winning the 800 meters and 1500 meters, as well as toting the baton on the first-place 4×800 relay.
WEST REGION – Milicent Wafula – Odessa (Texas)
Wafula is ranked first nationally in the 1500 meters at 4:23.63, which puts her third on the NJCAA all-time chart. She is also ranked among the top-three national athletes in both the 800 meters and 5000 meters. Her 5000-meter mark is most impressive, coming in at 16:27.64 and cements her status as the No. 4 performer in NJCAA history.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Sophia Do Amaral Salvi – Vincennes (Ind.)
Do Amari Salvi, who hails from Sao Paolo, Brazil, is the national leader in the pole vault at 3.85m (12-7½). She registered that performance at the Indiana Little State Invitational.
CENTRAL REGION – Cedricka Williams – Barton (Kan.) CC
Williams, who hails from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, broke and then bettered the NJCAA record in the discus with marks of 59.46m (195-1) and then 59.89m (196-6). She also excels at the other throwing events, ranking top-ten nationally in both the hammer and javelin.
MIDWEST REGION – Mercy Honesty – Iowa Western CC
Honesty, who hails from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump and carries an undefeated record into the NJCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Her 13.35m (43-9¾) PR in the event puts her sixth on the NJCAA all-time chart. Honesty swept the horizontal jump crowns at the Region 11 Outdoor Championships and soared to seventh on the seasonal Descending Order List in the long jump with her 5.87m (19-3¼) PR.
WEST REGION – Rejoice Agbewodie – Central Arizona
Agbewodie, who hails from Ghana, does it all for Central Arizona in the throws. She is ranked first nationally in the javelin with her 48.93m (160-7) PR from the Cody McBride/Distance in the Dark Invitational and second nationally in the discus, hammer and shot put. Agbewodie won all four throwing titles at the Region 1 Outdoor Championships.
Women’s Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Rashad Cannon – Richard Bland (Va.)
Cannon, in his third year as Head Coach at Richard Bland (Va.), led the Statesmen to a No. 1 team ranking in the Atlantic Region. Richard Bland has 13 top-5 regional marks, including the regional leader in the long jump and No. 2 in the 100 and 4×100 relay.
CENTRAL REGION – Drew Mahin – Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Mahin, in his 13th year as Head Coach at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, led the Thunderbirds to the team title at the Region 6 Outdoor Championships with 197 points, winning nine events. Cloud County is ranked No. 1 in the Central Region and No. 4 nationally.
MIDWEST REGION – David Burnett – Iowa Western CC
Burnett, in his third year as Head Coach at Iowa Western CC, led the Reivers to the team title at the Region 11 Outdoor Championships, winning 15 events. Iowa Western broke six program records this spring, with two also being NJCAA records – Juliana Sakat in the 10,000 and the distance medley relay team.
WEST REGION – Kathleen Raske – New Mexico JC
Raske, in her first year as Head Coach at New Mexico JC, led the T-Birds to a No. 1 national ream ranking. New Mexico, which set three program records this year, leads the nation in five events and is No. 2 in two events.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
ATLANTIC REGION – Karen La Rosa – Lake-Sumter State (Fla.)
La Rosa, in her sixth year as Head Coach at Lake-Sumter State (Fla.), coached the Lakehawks to a No. 10 regional team ranking with all freshmen. Her athletes posted top-5 regional marks in five events, led by regional 400 hurdle leader Oksanna Smith.
CENTRAL REGION – Ted Schmitz – Cloud County (Kan.) CC
Schmitz, in his 43rd year as assistant coach at Cloud County (Kan.) CC, coached Thunderbird athletes to win six events as Cloud County won the team title at the Region 6 Outdoor Championships. His athletes lead the nation in three events – 100, 200 and 400.
MIDWEST REGION – Marc Bierbuam – Iowa Western CC
Bierbaum, in his seventh year as Director of Track and Field at Iowa Western CC, coached Reiver distance runners to five program records – 1500, steeplechase, 10,000, 4×800 relay and distance medley relay – with two also being NJCAA records (Juliana Sakat in the 10,000 and the DMR team).
WEST REGION – Trinity Williams – Western Texas
Williams, in her 12th year as assistant coach at Western Texas, coached Westerner athletes to 15 top-10 regional rankings. Her athletes posted regional-leading marks in four events – 200, 100 hurdles, 400 hurdles and 4×100 – including the national leader in the 100 hurdles.