Cheickna Traore was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2023 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field season. Traore, who hails from Jersey City, New Jersey, made history at the 2023 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. He set an NCAA DIII record – and a meet record – in the 200 meters when he broke the tape first in 20.72. That came just a few events after he set a seasonal best of 46.85 to win the 400-meter crown and move up to No. 2 in NCAA DIII history in the process. Traore owns three of the top-7 marks in NCAA DIII history in the 200 and two of the top-10 efforts in the 400 from this season alone.