Award History
NAIA OTF Regional Awards2025 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central and West – honored both genders’ 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 at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Tristan Trevino – Marian (Ind.)
Trevino, who hails from Fortville, Indiana, is ranked top-five nationally in both the 800 meters and 1500 meters. His best mark comes in the 800 meters, where he turned tow laps in 1:49.67 at the Clark Wood Invitational. Trevino also ran a leg of Marian’s NAIA record-breaking 4×800.
MIDWEST REGION – Zach Turner – Doane (Neb.)
Turner, who hails from Crete, Nebraska, shattered NAIA records in three different hurdling race this season: 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles, and the 4×110 shuttle hurdle relay. In the 110-meter version, Turner clocked a wind-legal 13.52 with an all-conditions best of 13.49 with a 7.6 m/s tailwind. In the 400-meter version, Turner skimmed the barriers in 49.99 at the GPAC Outdoor Championships to become the first NAIA in history to go sub-50 in the event.
SOUTH REGION – Bryn Woodall – Milligan (Tenn.)
Woodall, who hails from Llanfairfechan, Wales, is ranked third nationally in both the 1500 meters and 5000 meters, and is a member of the fifth-ranked 4×800 relay. He starred at the AAC Outdoor Championships, where he scored 30.5 points thanks to individual titles in both the 1500 and 5000, a tote on the winning 4×800 relay, and a runner-up finish in the 800 meters.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Evert Silva – Oklahoma City
Silva, who hails from Fresno, California, set – and then lowered – the NAIA record in the 1500 meters twice. He initially ran 3:40.21 at the Bryan Clay Invitational before he lopped off more than one second with his 3:39.03 mark at the Arkansas Twilight. Silva is also ranked first nationally in the 5000 meters with his 13:27.76 PR from the Bryan Clay Invitational.
WEST REGION – Dylan Uhrich – British Columbia
Ulrich, who hails from Vancouver, British Columbia, leads the nation in the steeplechase at 8:49.44, sits fourth in the 1500 meters and eighth in the 5000 meters. His steeplechase PR put him seventh on the NAIA all-time chart with the best performance since 2021.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Christian Rios – Marian (Ind.)
Rios, who hails from Highland, Indiana, is ranked among the top-ten athletes nationally in three throwing events: second in the hammer, seventh in the shot put, and eighth in the discus. He was named the Field Athlete of the Meet and the MVP of the Meet at the Crossroads League Outdoor Championships after sweeping those three events and scoring 30 team points.
MIDWEST REGION – Robert Atwater – Midland (Neb.)
Atwater, who hails from Detroit, Michigan, starred at the GPAC Outdoor Championships with individual titles in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump, as well as a runner-up effort in the pole vault. That’s 38 points, if you’re counting at home. Atwater is ranked first nationally in the high jump with a best bar of 2.16m (7-1). He ended the season undefeated in the long jump, which included topping the podium out of the Championship Section at the Drake Relays.
SOUTH REGION – Rolando Andrews – William Carey (Miss.)
Andrews, who hails from Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is ranked first nationally in the triple jump at 15.35m (50-4½), a mark that he notched at the Jim Mize Invitational. He is also ranked sixth in the long jump with a 7.51m (24-7¾) SB recorded at the Bayou Battle.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Colder Evans – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Evans, who hails from Unionville, Missouri, is a national qualifier in the discus, hammer, and shot put. He is ranked among the top-20 athletes nationally in both the hammer and discus, with his best mark coming in the discus at 50.88m (166-11).
WEST REGION – Tyler Jones – Eastern Oregon
Jones, who hails from Richland, Washington, is ranked third nationally in the high jump with a 2.15m (7-0½) SB that he cleared at the Northwest Nazarene Open. He is one of just four men this season to eclipse 2.15m or better in the high jump this season at the NAIA level.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Katie Wise – Marian (Ind.)
Wise, in her first year as Director of Track & Field at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Outdoor Championships, scoring a meet-record 294 points and winning nine events. Marian is ranked No. 2 nationally and has nine events with top-4 national #EventSquad Rankings, including a No. 1 in the 400 meters.
MIDWEST REGION – Ed Fye – Doane (Neb.)
Fye, in his 23rd year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Doane (Neb.), led the Tigers to the team title at the GPAC Outdoor Championships, winning four events. Doane had 36 athletes earn All-GPAC honors and leads the national #EventSquad Rankings in three events – 110 hurdles, discus and hammer.
SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)
Dodson, in his seventh year as Director of Track and Field at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the team title at the Sun Conference Outdoor Championships, winning 11 events (tying a meet record) and breaking three conference event records. Southeastern, which broke six program records this season, has four events with top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 1 in the 100.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Kenny Anderson – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Anderson, in his fifth year as Director of Track & Field at Central Methodist (Mo.), led the Eagles to the team title at the Heart of America Conference Outdoor Championships, winning nine events. Central Methodist is the top-ranked team in the South Central Region and has two events with top-10 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 2 in the shot put.
WEST REGION – Ben Welch – Eastern Oregon
Welch, in his 34th year as Head Coach at Eastern Oregon, led the Mountaineers to the team title at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, winning nine events. Eastern Oregon, which broke two program records this season, has six events with top-10 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by No. 2 in the steeplechase and decathlon.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Coby Bailey – Huntington (Ind.)
Bailey, in his third year as assistant coach at Huntington (Ind.), coached the Foresters’ sprinters and hurdlers to score 64 points at the Crossroad League Outdoor Championships. His athletes set program records in six events this season with multiple athletes qualifying for the national championships in seven events, including the 4×100 relay team that clocked the fourth-fastest time in NAIA history at 39.73.
MIDWEST REGION – Logan Hammond – Doane (Neb.)
Hammond, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Doane (Neb.), coached the Tigers’ hurdlers to No. 1 and No. 2 national #EventSquad Rankings in the 110 hurdles and 400 hurdles, respectively. His athletes, who combined for 44 points in the hurdles at the GPAC Outdoor Championships, were led by Zach Turner, who set national records in the 110 hurdles (13.49) and 400 hurdles (49.99) as well as part of the shuttle hurdles relay (58.32).
SOUTH REGION – Malcolm Dias – William Carey (Miss.)
Dias, in his ninth year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached Crusader athletes to four top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings – three in the sprints and one in the long jump as an assistant. The Crusaders rate No. 1 in the 100 and long jump in those rankings and also lead the nation in the 4×100 relay with an NAIA-record time of 39.32.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Tevin Riddle – Central Methodist (Mo.)
Riddle, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Central Methodist (Mo.), coached Eagle athletes to account for 109 points at the Heart of America Outdoor Conference Championships, winning titles in five events. Named the Heart of America Conference Assistant Coach of the Year, he guided athletes to eight national qualifying spots in six events – high jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer and decathlon.
WEST REGION – Steve Weiler – British Columbia
Weiler, in his fourth year as Lead Endurance Coach at British Columbia, coached Thunderbird runners to two to event titles and a third-place finish at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships. His athletes hold the top-2 times in the NAIA in the steeplechase and rate No. 4 in the 1500 and No. 8 in the 5000.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Jaynie Halterman – Taylor (Ind.)
Halterman, who hails from Thompson’s Station, Tennessee, is ranked first nationally in the 5000 meters and third nationally in the 10,000 meters, both events in which she clocked NAIA all-time top-five marks this season. Her 16:02.58 PR in the 5000 puts her fourth on the all-time chart, while her 34:06.16 PR in the 10,000 slots her in at fifth.
MIDWEST REGION – Adrianna Rodencal – Concordia (Neb.)
Rodencal, who hails from Lincoln, Nebraska, scored an astounding 38 points at the GPAC Outdoor Championships and was named both the Most Outstanding Athlete of the Meet and the GPAC Athlete of the Year. She won individual titles in the 200 meters, 100-meter hurdles, and 400-meter hurdles, toted the baton on the runner-up 4×100 relay, and finished third in the 100 meters. Rodencal is ranked among the top-three athletes nationally in both hurdling events and will compete in both of those, and the 4×100 and 4×400 relays at the NAIA Championships.
SOUTH REGION – Denai Wilson – William Carey (Miss.)
Wilson, who hails from Mount Vernon, New York, is ranked second nationally in both the 100 meters and 200 meters at 11.49 and 23.43, respectively. She is also ranked seventh nationally in the 400 meters and is part of two top-seven relays. Wilson scored 20.5 points at the SSAC Outdoor Championships and led the Crusaders to the team title.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Aziza Clark – Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
Clark, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, is ranked seventh nationally in the 400-meter hurdles with her 1:00.98 PR. She captured that event title at the Red River Conference Championships.
WEST REGION – Charlotte Bowman – College of Idaho
Bowman, who hails from Rockland, Idaho, is undefeated in the 100 meters this season and is ranked sixth nationally in that event at 11.60. She scored 38 points at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Championships with an individual title in the 100 meters, runner-up finishes in the 400 meters, and as part of the 4×100 and 4×100 relays, and a third place effort in the 200 meters.
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Sydney Duncan – IU Kokomo (Ind.)
Duncan, who hails from Anderon, Indiana, recorded six of the farthest throws in NAIA history in the shot put this season with her 16.60m (54-5½) PR ranking third all-time. Her other marks sit fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and tenth. Duncan won shot put, discus and hammer titles at the RSC Outdoor Championships to amass 30 points and lead IU Kokomo to a third place finish.
MIDWEST REGION – Kori Nagel – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Nagel, who hails from Center, North Dakota, is ranked second nationally in both the hammer and shot put, and sits eighth nationally in the discus. Seventeen of her 19 event performances this season have been NAIA qualifying marks (nine A’s, eighth B’s). Nagel scored 28 points at the NSAA Outdoor Championships with conference titles in both the hammer and shot, with a runner-up finish in the discus.
SOUTH REGION – Myesha Hall – Truett-McConnell (Ga.)
Hall, who hails from Vidalia, Georgia, is the national leader in the long jump at 6.30m (20-8). She is also ranked eighth nationally in the triple jump at 12.08m (39-7¾).
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Victoria Lotz – MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
Lotz, who hails from Spring Hill, Kansas, is the national leader in the hammer with her 59.02m (193-8) mark that she used to win the Kansas Relays. She won the discus, hammer, and shot put at The Heart of American Conference Outdoor Championships, the former with a 48.68m (159-9) PR that puts her fifth on the seasonal Descending Order List.
WEST REGION – Sonya Urbanowicz – British Columbia
Urbanowicz, who hails from Nanaimo, British Columbia, set a then-NAIA record in the pole vault when she cleared 4.20m (13-9¼) at the Beach Invitational. She took top honors in that event at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Championships to lead UBC to the team title.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Katie Wise – Marian (Ind.)
Wise, in her first year as Director of Track & Field at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Outdoor Championships, scoring a meet-record 240 points and winning nine events. Marian is ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region and has 10 events with top-10 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 2 in the 800 meters.
MIDWEST REGION – Ed Fye – Doane (Neb.)
Fye, in his 23rd year as Director of Track & Field and Cross Country at Doane (Neb.), led the Tigers to the team title at the GPAC Outdoor Championships, winning eight events. Doane, which had 25 athletes earn All-GPAC honors this season, has seven events with top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 1 in the shot put.
SOUTH REGION – Ryan McKenzie – William Carey (Miss.)
McKenzie, in his fourth year as Director of Track & Field at William Carey (Miss.), led the Crusaders to the team title at the SSAC Outdoor Championships, winning 10 events. William Carey is ranked No. 5 nationally and has four events with top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 1 in the 100 and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – James Whittaker – Ottawa (Kan.)
Whittaker, in his ninth year as Head Coach at Ottawa (Kan.), led the Braves to the program’s first-ever team title at the KCAC Outdoor Championships, winning six events and setting two meet records. Ottawa has three events with top-10 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 1 in the long jump.
WEST REGION – Laurier Primeau – British Columbia
Primeau, in his 10th year as Head Coach at British Columbia, led the Thunderbirds to the team title at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, scoring a program-record 239 points and winning 11 events. British Columbia leads the national #EventSquad Rankings in three events – 800, 1500 and hammer.
Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Presley Martin – Marian (Ind.)
Martin, in his third year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), coached the Knights’ distance runners to Crossroads League Outdoor Championships titles in the 1500 and 4×800 relay while posting top marks in each event in the Great Lakes Region this season. Marian’s distance crew has three events with top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 2 in the 800.
MIDWEST REGION – Tanner Gust – Dickinson State (N.D.)
Gust, in his third year as assistant coach at Dickinson State (N.D.), coached the Blue Hawks’ throwers to account for 96 points at the NSAA Outdoor Championships, winning three events and setting two conference records. His athletes earned eight of the 12 all-conference honors in throwing events with Kori Nagel also being named NSAA Field Athlete of the Meet after scoring 28 points.
SOUTH REGION – Malcolm Dias – William Carey (Miss.)
Dias, in his ninth year as assistant coach at William Carey (Miss.), coached or assisted Crusader athletes to help win the team title at the SSAC Outdoor Championships. His athletes earned 15 national championship qualifying marks, and his event groups earned four top-5 national #EventSquad Rankings, led by a No. 1 in the 100 and triple jump.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Ryan Bontz – Columbia (Mo.)
Bontz, in his second year as assistant coach at Columbia (Mo.), coached Cougar sprinters, hurdlers and jumpers to account for 119 of the team’s 211 points in winning the team title at the AMC Outdoor Championships, winning five events. His athletes set program records in two events this season as he was part of the AMC Coaching Staff of the Year.
WEST REGION – Catherine Watkins – British Columbia
Watkins, in her fourth year as Endurance Coach at British Columbia, coached Thunderbird athletes to win two events at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships as British Columbia won the team title. Her athletes have the NAIA’s top times in the 800, 1500 and steeplechase as well as three additional top-5 marks in the distances.