2025 NJCAA Division I Cross Country Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Here are the Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NJCAA Division I Cross Country season.

These awards were voted on by member coaches before the NJCAA Championships.

Men’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Matthew Binkley — Blinn (Texas)

Binkley won the individual title at the NJCAA Region XIV Championships in 24:22. He also finished top ten at the Stormy Seas Opener and The Hill XC Classic earlier in the season.

CENTRAL REGION — Cornelius Kogo — Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

Kogo won the individual title at the NJCAA Region 6 Championships in 24:14.8. He was Hutchinson’s top runner in three of four meets this season.

MIDWEST REGION — Barnabas Ndiwa — Iowa Western CC

Ndiwa won the individual title at the NJCAA Region 11 Championships in 24:05.9. He is one of seven NJCAA athletes to break 24 minutes this year and has done so in every 8k except Regions, where he ran the fourth-fastest time ever on the course. His performances have helped lead Iowa Western to the No. 1 team ranking all season.

WEST REGION — Amantle Modingwane — Ranger (Texas)

Modingwane won the individual title at the NJCAA Region V Championships in 23:21.0. He also topped the podium at the DBU Old Glory Gallup and the Mustang Derby.

Men’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Jesse Parker — Blinn (Texas)

Parker led the Buccaneers to the team title at the NJCAA Region 14 Championships with 20 points. Blinn was also runner-up out of 11 teams at the Hill Classic.

CENTRAL REGION — Jafet Molinares – Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

Molinares led the Blue Dragons to the team title at the NJCAA Region 6 Championships with 35 points. Hutchinson also won team titles at the Terry Masterson Twilight and Missouri Southern Stampede.

MIDWEST REGION — Marc Bierbaum — Iowa Western CC

Bierbaum led the Reivers to the team title at the NJCAA Region 11 Championships with 26 points. Iowa Western was ranked No. 1 nationally in every coaches poll this season and had the top two athletes in four meets this year.

WEST REGION — Jeff Becker — New Mexico JC

Becker led the T-Birds to the team title at the NJCAA Region 5 Championships with 32 points. New Mexico won five meets this year and has was ranked among the top-4 in every National Coaches’ Poll since the preseason.

Women’s Athlete of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Clare White — Blinn (Texas)

White finished second at the NJCAA Region XIV Championships in 18:50. She placed 21st at the Stormy Seas Opener earlier in the season and helped her team to a runner-up finish.

CENTRAL REGION — Mildred Rono — Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

Rono won the individual title at the NJCAA Region 6 Championships in 17:10.7. She also broke Hutchinson’s school records in the 3-mile (16:55.7) and 5k (16:41.1), and won three of her four races this season.

MIDWEST REGION — Juliana Sakat — Iowa Western CC

Sakat won the individual title at the NJCAA Region 11 Championships in 17:28.2, placing first by nearly one minute in leading Iowa Western CC to the team title. She has the fastest 5k and 6k in the NJCAA this year, won three meets, and set two school records.

WEST REGION — Yididiya Bifa — New Mexico JC

Bifa won the individual title at the NJCAA Region V Championships in 17:12.0, setting a new course record. She has won every meet she has completed this year, including the Lori Fitzgerald Open and the NMJC Dr. Steve McCleery Invitational.

Women’s Coach of the Year

ATLANTIC REGION — Jesse Parker – Blinn (Texas)

Parker led the Buccaneers to the team title at the NJCAA Region 14 Championships with 24 points. Blinn was also the top JUCO team in two other meets this season.

CENTRAL REGION — Jafet Molinares — Hutchinson (Kan.) CC

Molinares led the Blue Dragons to the team title at the NJCAA Region 6 Championships with 50 points. Hutchinson has been ranked among the top-4 in every National Coaches’ Poll this season.

MIDWEST REGION — Marc Bierbaum — Iowa Western CC

Bierbaum led the Reivers to the title at the NJCAA Region 11 Championships with 27 points. Iowa Western, which has been ranked among the top-2 in every National Coaches’ Poll this season, was led by Juliana Sakat, who won three meets this year while earning M-F Athletic National Athlete of the Week honors three times.

WEST REGION — Chris Beene — Odessa (Texas)

Beene led the Wranglers to the team title at the NJCAA Region 5 Championships with 32 points. Odessa has been ranked No. 1 in every National Coaches’ Poll this season.