Award History
NAIA XC Regional Awards2025 NAIA Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NAIA Cross Country season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the regular season.
Many of these athletes and coaches will end their season on Friday, November 21, at the 2025 NAIA Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida. The meet will be held at Apalachee Regional Park.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Camden Khon — Spring Arbor (Mich.)
Khon won the individual title at the Crossroads League Championships in 24:14.7. The Spring Arbor junior also finished fifth at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, second at the Warrior Challenge, and fifth at the Hillsdale Invitational.
MIDWEST REGION — Truman Johnson — Dordt (Iowa)
Johnson won the individual title at the GPAC Championships in 24:45.65. The Dordt sophomore also finished second at the Sunflower Open, third at the Mount Marty Invitational, and 11th at the Roy Griak Invitational.
SOUTH REGION — Frank Kipruto — Tennessee Southern
Kipruto won the individual title at the Southern States Championships in 25:08.43. The Tennessee Southern freshman also finished second at the Firehawk Invitational, third at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge, and eighth at the UNA Invitational.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Kalieb Redda — Columbia (Mo.)
Redda won the individual titles at the American Midwest Championships in 26:22.7 and the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic in 24:19.39. The Columbia junior also finished second at the Larry Young Invitational and sixth at the Gans Creek Classic.
WEST REGION — Yemane Mulugeta — Trinity Western (B.C.)
Mulugeta won the individual titles at the Cascade Championships, Linfield George Oja Invitational, and WWU Bill Roe Classic. His victory at the Linfield George Oja Invitational in 23:34.1 is the fastest of the season in NAIA. The Trinity Western sophomore also finished third at the Gator Cross and seventh at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.
Men’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Brody Beiler — Indiana Wesleyan
Beiler, in his second year as head coach at Indiana Wesleyan, led the Wildcats to the team title at the Crossroads League Championships with 53 points. Indiana Wesleyan also won team titles at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, Ray Bullock Invitational, Gans Creek Classic Open Division and Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Twilight Invitational.
MIDWEST REGION — Brad Jenny — Doane (Neb.)
Jenny, in his 24th year as head coach at Doane (Neb.), led the Tigers to the team title at the GPAC Championships with 36 points. Doane also was third at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic and Dordt Holiday Inn Express Classic.
SOUTH REGION — Alan Webb — Ave Maria (Fla.)
Webb, in his fourth year as head coach at Ave Maria (Fla.), led the Gyrenes to the team title at The Sun Conference Championships with 32 points. Ave Maria also won team titles at the Ave Maria Invitational and St. Thomas Bobcat Invitational.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Rikki Hacker — Park (Mo.)
Hacker, in his third year as head coach at Park (Mo.), led the Pirates to the team title at the Heart of America Conference Championships with 25 points. Park also won teams titles at the Larry Young Invitational and Central (Iowa) Dutch Invitational.
WEST REGION — Mike McLean — Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
McLean, in his 10th year as head coach at Rocky Mountain (Mont.), led the Battlin’ Bears to the team title at the Frontier Conference Championships with 38 points. Rocky Mountain also finished third at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge and won team titles at the Yellowjackets/Battlin’ Bears Open and Blue Hawks Invitational.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Jaynie Halterman — Taylor (Ind.)
Halterman won the individual titles at the Crossroads League Championships, Ray Bullock Invitational, and Indiana Wesleyan Twilight Invitational. The Taylor sophomore, who is undefeated against NAIA athletes, also finished fourth at the Seminole Invite behind three NCAA DI runners.
MIDWEST REGION — Grace Steinmetz — Bellevue (Neb.)
Steinmetz won the individual titles at the Frontier Championships, Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic, and Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic. The Bellevue freshman also finished second at the Gans Creek Classic and posted top-five finishes at the Augustana Twilight and Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational.
SOUTH REGION — Ellen-Mary Kearney — Milligan (Tenn.)
Kearney won the individual titles at the Appalachian (AAC) Championships, NAIA Appalachian Challenge, and Eli Cramer Invitational. The Milligan senior also finished second at The Firetower Project and seventh at the Queen City Invite. Her 19:59.07 at the AAC Championships was the first time an NAIA athlete ran under 20 minutes for 6k.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Josie Tyrrell — Saint Mary (Kan.)
Tyrrell won the individual titles at the KCAC Championships, Firestarter Classic, and Spire Sunset Showdown. The Saint Mary senior also finished second at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic.
WEST REGION — Alauna Carstens — Evergreen State (Wash.)
Carstens won the individual titles at the Cascade Championships, Linfield George Oja Invitational, and Pacific Lutheran Invitational. The Evergreen State junior also finished third at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational.
Women’s Coach of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION — Quinn White — Taylor (Ind.)
White, in his 16th year as head coach at Taylor (Ind.), led the Trojans to the team title at the Crossroads League Championships with 25 points. Taylor also won team titles at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge, Ray Bullock Invitational and Indiana Wesleyan Wildcat Twilight Invitational.
MIDWEST REGION — Nate Wolf — Dordt (Iowa)
Wolf, in his 11th year as head coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the team title at the GPAC Championships with 17 points. Dordt also won team titles at the Mount Marty Invite and Dordt Sunflower Opener.
SOUTH REGION — Chris Layne — Milligan (Tenn.)
Layne, in his 27th year as head coach with Milligan (Tenn.), led the Buffaloes to the team title at the AAC Championships with 20 points. Milligan also won team titles at the NAIA Appalachian Challenge and Eli Cramer Invitational.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Garrett Young — Kansas Wesleyan
Young, in his fourth year as head coach at Kansas Wesleyan, led the Coyotes to the team title at the KCAC Championships with 27 points. Kansas Wesleyan also won the team title at the Muthama-Rogers Invitational.
WEST REGION — Dominic Bolin — College of Idaho
Bolin, in his fourth year as head coach at College of Idaho, led the Coyotes to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 39 points. College of Idaho also won the team title at the Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic.