Award History
NCAA DIII XC Regional Awards2025 NCAA Division III Cross Country Regional Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NCAA DIII Cross Country season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the season.
Many of these athletes and coaches ended their season on Saturday, November 22, at the 2025 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The meet will be held at Milliken Research 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
EAST REGION — Paulino Guevara Mateo — Fitchburg State
Guevara Mateo won the individual title at the East Region Championships and later finished 79th at the NCAA DIII Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Fitchburg State standout also won the MASCAC Championships, Golden Bear Invitational, Norwich Cadets Invitational, and Pop Crowell Invitational, and placed second at the James Earley Invitational and Silloway Vermont State Maple Syrup Challenge, while finishing fourth at the Jim Sheehan Memorial.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Gavin Byerly — Manchester
Byerly finished fifth at the Great Lakes Region Championships and later earned All-America honors at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Manchester standout won the individual title at the HCAC Championships and the Franklin Grizzly Invitational. He was also fifth at the Rumble in the Fort, seventh at the Swags Louisville Cross Country Classic, and 12th at the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble.
METRO REGION — Micah Lachman — Haverford
Lachman finished second at the Metro Region Championships and later placed 52nd at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Haverford standout won the individual title at the Rowan Border Battle and placed fifth at the Centennial Championships, while finishing 22nd at both the Paul Short Run and Main Line Invitational.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Emmanuel Leblond — Johns Hopkins
Leblond capped a sensational season by winning the individual title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Johns Hopkins standout also topped the podium at the Centennial Conference Championships and the Connecticut College Invitational. He was also third at the Virginia Invitational against primarily NCAA DI competition.
MIDEAST REGION — Nathan Tassey — Roger Williams
Tassey won the individual title at the Mideast Region Championships and later finished sixth at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Roger Williams standout also won the Conference of New England Championships and placed second at the Paul Short Run.
MIDWEST REGION — Isaac vanWestrienen — Cornell College
vanWestrienen, who finished third at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, entered that competition on a three-meet winning streak. The Cornell College standout won individual titles at the Midwest Region Championships, the Midwest Conference Championships, and the Augustana Interregional Invitational.
NIAGARA REGION — Ryan Hagan — SUNY Geneseo
Hagan finished fourth at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, just one week after winning the individual title at the Niagara Region Championships. The SUNY Geneseo standout also won the individual title at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational and was runner-up at the Connecticut College Invitational.
NORTH REGION — Mohammed Bati — Augsburg
Bati took runner-up honors at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Augsburg standout entered the NCAA Championships without a blemish on his record, having won six consecutive meets before that, namely the North Region Championships, the MIAC Championships, as well as the Blugold Invitational.
SOUTH REGION — Ashton Deriso — Oglethorpe
Deriso finished runner-up at the South Region Championships just one week before placing 46th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Oglethorpe standout also took runner-up honors at the SAA Championships and was 11th at the DIII Pre-National Invitational, among other performances.
WEST REGION — Will Shuflit — Colorado College
Shuflit, who won four individual titles this season, finished 16th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Colorado College standout topped the podium at the West Region Championships, the SCAC Championships, the Paul Short Run and the Ted Castaneda Classic.
Men’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION — Jamie Norton — Tufts
Norton, in his second year as head coach at Tufts, led the Jumbos to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 255 points. Earlier in the season, Tufts was runner-up at the East Region Championships with 49 points and won the team title at the NESCAC Championships with 30 points.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Mark Northuis — Hope
Northuis, in his 38th year as head coach at Hope, led the Flying Dutchmen to the team title at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 53 points and later finished 23rd at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, Hope won the team title at the Michigan Intercollegiate (MIAA) Championships with 22 points.
METRO REGION — Justin Lindsey — TCNJ
Lindsey, in his 13th year as head coach at TCNJ, led the lions to the team title at the Metro Region Championships with 56 points and later finished 32nd at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, TCNJ won the team title at the NJAC Championships wit 22 points.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Cullen Doody — Johns Hopkins
Doody, in his first year as head coach at Johns Hopkins, led the Blue Jays to a sixth-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 216 points. Earlier in the season, Johns Hopkins won team titles at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 23 points and Centennial Conference Championships with 19 points.
MIDEAST REGION — John Lynch — RPI
Lynch, in his 15th year as head coach at RPI, led the Engineers to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 182 points. Earlier in the season, RPI won team titles at the Mideast Region Championships with 44 points and Liberty League Championships with 22 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Ryan Chapman — Wartburg
Chapman, in his 10th year as head coach at Wartburg, led the Knights to a third-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 133 points. Earlier in the season, Wartburg won team titles at the Midwest Region Championships with 30 points and American Rivers Conference Championships with a perfect score of 15 points.
NIAGARA REGION — Dan Moore — SUNY Geneseo
Moore, in his 11th year as head coach at SUNY Geneseo, led the Knights to a runner-up finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 132 points. Earlier in the season, SUNY Geneseo won team titles at the Niagara Region Championships with 29 points and Empire 8 Conference Championships with 24 points.
NORTH REGION — Derek Stanley — UW-La Crosse
Stanley, in his 14th year as head coach at UW-La Crosse, led the Eagles to the team title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 82 points. Earlier in the season, UW-La Crosse won team titles at the North Region Championships with 30 points and WIAC Championships with 24 points.
SOUTH REGION — Brandon Spalding — Washington and Lee
Spalding, in his 13th year as head coach at Washington and Lee, led the Generals to the team title at the South Region Championships with 39 points and later finished 20th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, Washington and Lee won the team title at the ODAC Championships with 27 points.
WEST REGION — Emma DeLira — Pomona-Pitzer
DeLira, in her second year as head coach at Pomona-Pitzer, led the Sagehens to an eighth-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 258 points. Earlier in the season, Pomona-Pitzer won team titles at the West Region Championships with 43 points and SCIAC Championships with 29 points.
Women’s Athlete of the Year
EAST REGION — Rujuta Sane — MIT
Sane finished 12th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, just one week after taking runner-up honors at the East Region Championships. The MIT standout placed fourth at both the NEWMAC Championships and the Cardinal Invitational, as well as a ninth-place effort at the Connecticut College Invitational.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Sophie Bull — Calvin
Bull finished fifth at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, just one week after winning the individual title at the Great Lakes Region Championships. The Calvin standout also topped the podium at the Diemer Classic, and placed fourth at the MIAA Championships, the Joe Piane Invitational and the George Dales Invitational.
METRO REGION — Gabriella Pagano — Rowan
Pagano reigned at the NJAC Championships before placing third at the Metro Region Championships and 45th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Rowan standout topped other podiums at the Osprey Open and the Salisbury Fall Classic, and finished top ten at both the Paul Short Run and the Rowan Border Battle.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Claire Anderson — Washington & Jefferson
Anderson finished third at both the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, as well as the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships. The Washington & Jefferson standout won individual titles at both the Oberlin Inter-Regional Rumble as well as the Dickinson-Long Short Invitational, and placed fourth at the PAC Championships.
MIDEAST REGION — Audrey Maclean — Middlebury
MacLean capped a sterling season by winning the individual title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Middlebury standout also topped the podium at the Mideast Region Championships, the NESCAC Championships, the Connecticut College Invitational, as well as the Ronald Hoffman Invitational.
MIDWEST REGION — Lucinda Laughlin — Washington (Mo.)
Laughlin won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships and later placed 16th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Washington (Mo.) standout was fourth at the Augustana Interregional Invitational and fifth at the UAA Championships, among other performances.
NIAGARA REGION — Janie Cooper — NYU
Cooper finished tenth at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, just one week after placing second at the Niagara Region Championships.
NORTH REGION — Hannah Preisser — Carleton
Preisser won the individual title at the North Region Championships, the St. Olaf Invitational, and the MIAC Preview. The Carleton standout was also second at the MIAC Championships and sixth at the Connecticut College Invitational. Preisser ended her season by placing 119th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
SOUTH REGION — Olivia Warr — Washington and Lee
Warr finished fourth at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, just one week after winning the individual title at the South Region Championships. The Washington and Lee standout entered the NCAA postseason having topped podiums at the ODAC Championships and the Virginia Tech Invitational, while also taking runner-up honors at the Connecticut College Invitational.
WEST REGION — Alison Mueller-Hickler — Colorado College
Mueller-Hickler won individual titles at both the West Region Championships and the SCAC Championships before capping her season in 26th place at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The Colorado College standout was also third at the Augustana Interregional Invitational and 12th at the Paul Short Run.
Women’s Coach of the Year
EAST REGION — Michael Schmidt — Brandeis
Schmidt, in his third year as head coach at Brandeis, led the Judges to a third-place finish at the East Region Championships with 117 points and later finished 25th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, Brandeis finished sixth in the UAA Championships.
GREAT LAKES REGION — Zach Raber — Trine
Raber, in his 13th year as head coach at Trine, led the Thunder to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 323 points. Earlier in the season, Trine won team titles at the Great Lakes Region Championships with 58 points and Michigan Intercollegiate (MIAA) Championships with 22 points.
METRO REGION — Peter Carroll — Swarthmore
Carroll, in his 26th year as head coach at Swarthmore, led the Garnet to the team title at the Metro Region Championships with 71 points and later finished 32nd at NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, Swarthmore finished third in the Centennial Conference Championships with 103 points.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Bobby Van Allen — Johns Hopkins
Van Allen, in his 26th year as head coach at Johns Hopkins, led the Blue Jays to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 140 points. Earlier in the season, Johns Hopkins won team titles at the Mid-Atlantic Region Championships with 42 points and Centennial Conference Championships with a perfect score of 15 points.
MIDEAST REGION — Dusty López — Williams
Lopez, in his third year as head coach at Williams, led the Ephs to a runner-up finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 106 points. Earlier in the season, Williams won team titles at the Mideast Region Championships with 39 points and NESCAC Championships with 32 points.
MIDWEST REGION — Jeff Stiles — Washington (Mo.)
Stiles, in his 25th year as head Coach at Washington (Mo.), led the Bears to a seventh-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 292 points. Earlier in the season, Washington won the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 42 points and finished fourth at the UAA Championships with 91 points.
NIAGARA REGION — Tyler Deck Shipley — NYU
Deck Shipley, in his fifth year as head coach at NYU, led the Violets to the team title at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 79 points. Earlier in the season, NYU won team titles at the Niagara Region Championships with 52 points and UAA Championships with 25 points.
NORTH REGION — Derek Stanley — UW-La Crosse
Stanley, in his 14th year as head coach at UW-La Crosse, led the Eagles to the team title at the North Region Championships with 45 points and later finished 12th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, UW-La Crosse won the team title at the WIAC Championships with 21 points.
SOUTH REGION — Linh Nguyen — Emory
Nguyen, in his seventh year as head coach at Emory, led the Eagles to the team title at the South Region Championships with 42 points and later finished 18th at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Earlier in the season, Emory finished fifth in the UAA Championships with 122 points.
WEST REGION — Marina Muncan — Claremont-Mudd-Scripps
Muncan, in her sixth year as head coach at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, led the Athenas to a third-place finish at the NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, with 133 points. Earlier in the season, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps won team titles at the West Region Championships with 33 points and SCIAC Championships with 17 points.