Region Athletes and Coaches of the Year Named for NCAA DI Outdoor TandF

 

EUGENE, Oregon – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2015 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season were announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the regions, which are the same as those used during the Division I cross country season, honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes and the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.

QUICK LINKS TO AWARDS
Men	Women
Track Athletes of the Year	Track Athletes of the Year
Field Athletes of the Year	Field Athletes of the Year
Head Coaches of the Year	Head Coaches of the Year
Assistant Coaches of the Year	Assistant Coaches of the Year

 

Many of the honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships set for this coming weekend, June 10-13, in Eugene, Oregon.

The Championships will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of broadcast platforms, including primetime slots on ESPN and ESPN2 on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

More information about the meet can be found at the USTFCCCA’s National Championships Central page.

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Matthew McClintock — Purdue

Purdue’s McClintock won the Big Ten 5000 and took second in the 10000.  He broke school records in both events (13:56.80/28:54.77) and will be contesting the 10k at the NCAA finals in Eugene.  McClintock is a junior from Athens, Maine.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Thomas Awad — Penn

Awad ran 13:33.29 for 5k, which was the sixth fastest time in the NCAA this regular season. That time broke a thirty-seven year-old Penn school record; Awad also broke the Penn school record in the 1500 and won the Ivy League in both events.  He qualified for the NCAA finals in the 5000. Awad is a junior from East Norwich, New York.

MIDWEST REGION – Michael Stigler — Kansas 

Stigler won the Texas Relays 400 meter hurdles in 48.44, the fastest time by a collegian this season and the fastest in the NCAA in four years.  He won the Big 12 conference title in the event and will contest it at the NCAA championship in Eugene. Stigler is a senior from Canyon, Texas.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Anthony Rotich – UTEP

Rotich won the 1500, steeplechase, and 5000 at the Conference USA championships, and will try to defend his national title in the steeple at the NCAA finals. His thirty points were the most of any athlete at the C-USA meet.  Rotich is a senior from Nairobi, Kenya.

NORTHEAST REGION – Brendon Rodney — LIU Brooklyn

Rodney, a Canadian from Brampton, Ontario, has the Northeast Region’s fastest time in the 100 (10.28), 200 (20.27), and 400 (46.43).  The redshirt junior won the 100 and 200 and ran legs on the winning 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays at the Northeast Conference championships.   Rodney and his relay mates broke school records in the 4×1 and 4×4 at the East Prelims to qualify through to the NCAA finals, and he qualified as an individual in the 200.

SOUTH REGION – Dedric Dukes — Florida

Dukes won the SEC 200 in 19.99 seconds, which leads all collegians and is the second fastest time in the world this year.  He also took third in the 100 and ran a leg on the winning 4×400 at the conference championship.  The senior from Miami, Florida qualified for the NCAA finals in the 200 and could run one or both sprint relays for the Gators in Eugene.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Omar McLeod — Arkansas (Co-winner)

McLeod broke the SEC championship record in the 110 hurdles in 13.21 seconds and ran the seventh fastest time in collegiate history—the same mark, 13.21—earlier in the season at the Drake Relays.  He’s a sophomore from Kingston, Jamaica, and will be competing in the 110s and both sprint relays at the NCAA finals in Oregon.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Trayvon Bromell — Baylor (Co-winner)

Bromell, a sophomore from St. Petersburg, Florida, will be sprinting in the 100, 200, and 4×100 at the NCAA championships this week.  He hasn’t lost a 100 meter final this year and won both the 100 and 200 at the Big 12 championship for the conference Male Performer of the Year award. His marks of 9.90 and 20.13 in the 100 and 200 are both third-fastest in the collegiate ranks this year.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Tevin Hester — Clemson

Hester, a junior, won the 100 and 200 at the ACC championships and was named the conference’s Most Valuable Track Performer for the double.  His 20.18 time in the 200 is an ACC meet record, and his 9.87 in the 100 is tied for the fastest time in all-conditions among collegians this year.  He’s from Oxford, North Carolina, and will be running the 100 and 200 at the NCAA finals.

WEST REGION – Andre De Grasse — Southern California 

De Grasse’s wind-legal 9.97 time in the Pac-12 100 meter final was a USC and Pac-12 championship record, and his wind-aided 9.87 100 is tied for the fastest time in the NCAA.  He won both events and ran on the winning 4×100 meter relay at the Pac-12 meet, and qualified out of the West Prelims in all three events.  The junior from Markham, Ontario, set the Canadian national record with a time of 20.03 seconds in the 200.

 

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Leah O’Connor — Michigan State

O’Connor, a senior from Croswell, Michigan, was named the Big Ten Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year and of the Championships after winning the 3000-meter steeplechase, the 1500 and the 5000 at her conference meet. She broke her own school records in the steeplechase (9:35.38) and the 1500 (4:11.04), which rank No. 3 and No. 2 among collegians this year. She’ll contest the steeplechase at the NCAA Championships.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Stephanie Schappert — Villanova

Schapert, a senior from Delray Beach, Pennsylvania, anchored the Wildcats to Penn Relays wins in the distance medley relay and the 4×800 relay, spitting a 2:03.9 in the latter. She finished runner-up in the Big East 800 meters final. She will contest the 1500 at the NCAA Championships after running 4:13.26 at the East Prelims.

MIDWEST REGION – Courtney Frerichs — UMKC

Frerichs, a redshirt junior from Nixa, Missouri, made history when she ran 9:32.12 in the steeplechase to move to No. 3 on the all-time collegiate performers list in the event. She was named WAC Outstanding Track Performer with conference wins in the steeplechase and at 5000 meters, and she also broke the school record in the 1500 during the year. She will contest the steeplechase at the NCAA Championships.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Cierra White — Texas Tech

White, a senior from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has not finished worse than second in a race at either 100 or 200 meters all season long. That includes a pair of runner-up finishes at the Big 12 Championships, where she contributed 17½ team points to the Red Raiders. She’s ranked No. 6 among collegians at 100 meters and No. 7 at 200 meters, both of which she’ll contest at NCAAs.

NORTHEAST REGION – Emily Sisson — Providence

Sisson, a senior from Chesterfield, Missouri, may be competing at 5000 meters at the NCAA Championships – an event in which she holds the indoor collegiate record – but the 10,000 is where she made her mark in 2015. She went 31:38.03 at Payton Jordan for the fourth-fastest time in collegiate history. She won the Big East 5000 title in a meet record 15:40.64, and was also the Penn Relays 3000-meter champion.

SOUTH REGION – Kyra Jefferson — Florida (Co-winner)

Jefferson, a sophomore from Detroit, Michigan, enters the NCAA Championships with serious momentum. She won the East Prelims 200 meters in 22.26 for the eighth-fastest time in collegiate history (No. 6 on the collegiate performers list all-time), and the No. 3 time in the world this year. She won the SEC title and ran a leg of the nation-leading 4×400 relay. She’ll contest both events at NCAAs, as well as potentially running a leg of the 4×100.

SOUTH REGION – Shakima Wimbley — Miami (Fla.) (Co-winner)

Wimbley, a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has emerged as a title contender at 400 meters, entering the NCAA Championships with the collegiate lead at 50.84. She won the ACC crown in that event, as well as at 200 meters – an event in which she’s run 22.43 for the No. 3 time among collegians this season. She will also run a leg of Miami’s 4×400 relay.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Dominique Scott — Arkansas

Scott, a junior from Capetown, South Africa, was named the SEC Runner of the Year and earned the Commissioner’s Trophy as the top scorer at the SEC Champions with wins at 1500 and 5000 meters. She’s No. 3 in the country at 10,000 meters in 32:11.60 for the No. 10 time in collegiate history, No. 4 at 5000 meters and No. 6 at 1500 meters. She’ll contest the 5000 and 10,000 at NCAAs.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Kendra Harrison — Kentucky

Harrison, a senior from Clayton, North Carolina, is in the midst of a historic season in the hurdles. She won the SEC title in the 100-meter hurdles in 12.50 to make her the third-fastest in collegiate history, in addition to posting additional top-10 times of 12.62 twice. All told, she’s run the four fastest times in the country and is No. 2 in the world. She finished runner-up in the SEC in the 400-meter hurdles, and is ranked No. 2 in the country in that event. She’ll contest both hurdles at NCAAs, in addition to potential legs on the 4×100 and 4×400 relays.

WEST REGION – Jasmine Todd — Oregon

Todd, a sophomore from Chandler, Arizona, is peaking at the right time after running wind-aided 100-meter efforts of 10.88 and 10.89 at the NCAA West Prelims for the No. 3 and 4 times under all-conditions in collegiate history. She won the Pac-12 title in that event in a wind-legal career-best 11.12.

 

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Shawn Barber — Akron 

Barber is unbeaten in seven outdoor meets in 2015, with his best vault clearance of 5.91m (19-4.75) ranking second in collegiate history.  He’s the MAC pole vault champion and will compete in the event at the NCAA finals.  Barber, a junior, is a Canadian whose hometown is Kingwood, Texas.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Darrell Hill — Penn State

Hill, of Philadelphia, is the 2015 Big Ten and Penn Relays shot put champ.  His season best of 20.86 meters (sixty-eight feet, five and a quarter inches) ranks second in the NCAA this outdoor season.  The senior will throw the shot at this week’s Division I finals.

MIDWEST REGION – Ifeanyichukwu Otuonye — Kansas State

Otuonye won the Big 12 title and broke the Turks and Caicos national record in the long jump this spring.  His wind-legal best of 7.87m (25-10) got him through to the NCAA finals, and his season best in all conditions of 7.98m (26-02.25) ranks fifth in Division I this year.  He’s a junior from Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Kole Weldon — Texas Tech

Weldon scored more points than any other male athlete at the Big 12 championships, winning the hammer and taking second in the shot put and discus.  Those twenty-six points are the most by an Big 12 athlete at the conference meet in a decade.  The senior from Jacksboro, Texas, qualified for the NCAA finals in the discus.

NORTHEAST REGION – Jonathan Jones — Buffalo

Jones goes in to this week’s NCAA shot put finals with a No. 3-ranked mark of 20.70 meters (67-11), which he set in winning the Florida Relays.  He won the MAC shot put, broke a thirty-seven year old MAC championship meet record, and is the Buffalo school record holder.  Jones is a redshirt senior from Portville, New York.

SOUTH REGION – Marquis Dendy — Florida

Dendy qualified for the NCAA finals in the long jump and triple jump—events in which he is the defending national champion.  The senior from Middletown, Delaware won those jumps at the SEC championships and has set a wind-legal outdoor career best of 8.19m (26-10.5) in the long jump.  He leads the NCAA descending order list in both jumps.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Rodney Brown — LSU

Brown, a senior from Chappell Hill, Texas, won eight discus competitions at eight meets this outdoor season.  He won the SEC championship, and he won the Penn Relays with a meet record toss of 65.04 meters (213-5).  That latter mark is the national leader heading in to this week’s NCAA championships.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Filip Mihaljevic — Virginia

Mihaljevic, a sophomore from Livno, Bosnia and Herzegovina, competes in the shot put and the discus.  In those two events, he’s qualified for the NCAA finals, won the ACC championships, and set Virginia school records.  His UVA discus record is 63.11 meters (207-0) and his shot put record is 20.16m (66-1.75).

WEST REGION – Bryan McBride — Arizona State

McBride, a redshirt senior from Arizona, is a rare double national qualifier in the high jump and the long jump.  His season best of 2.30m (7-6.50) in the high jump is the Arizona State school record—taking down a mark that’s nearly four decades old—and the No. 2 mark in Division I this year.  McBride is a fifth-year senior from Peoria, Arizona.

 

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Brooke Pleger — Bowling Green

Pleger, a senior from Saline, Michigan, has dominated in the hammer throw all season long, notching a career-best 228-9 for the No. 10 spot on the all-time collegiate performers list. She set Mid-American Conference, MAC Championship, East Prelims, North Florida Stadium, and school records in the event throughout the season.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Rachel Fatherly — Penn State

Fatherly, a junior from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, had a breakthrough 2015 season, qualifying to the NCAA Championships in the shot put ranked No. 10. She took second in the Big Ten shot put with a career-best 56-3¼ (17.15m), and was second in the Penn Relays shot put.

MIDWEST REGION – Akela Jones — Kansas State

Jones, a junior from Bridgetown, Barbados, is making waves in her first season at Kansas State, qualifying to the NCAA Championships as the No. 4 high jumper in the country and the No. 4 heptathlete. She was the runner-up in the Big 12 in both the high jump and long jump, the latter of which she set a new school record in with the No. 9 jump in the country. She scored 6049 points in the heptathlon at the Jim Click Shootout.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Chari Hawkins — Utah State

Hawkins, a senior from Rexburg, Idaho, was named the Female Outstanding Performer of the Meet at the Mountain West Championships after taking the wins in the heptathlon and the high jump at 5-9¼ (1.76m). Earlier in the season, she broke the school record in the heptathlon with 5732 points, qualifying her for the NCAA Championships.

NORTHEAST REGION – Nikki Okwelogu — Harvard

Okwelogu, a sophomore from Fresno, California, was named the Field Performer of the Meet at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships, winning both the shot put and the discus. She became the first woman in Ivy history to throw the shot over 56 feet, reaching 56-10 (17.32m) for a conference record, while going for the No. 2 discus mark in conference history (176-5 (53.78m) and a new school record. She will contest the shot put at NCAAs.

SOUTH REGION – Erica Bougard – Mississippi State

Bougard, a senior from Byhalia, Mississippi, won the SEC heptathlon title with a meet-record and collegiate-leading score of 6250 points, fifth-best in collegiate history. She qualified for the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon, 100 hurdles, and high jump. During her historic heptathlon, she broke the school high jump record with 6-¾ clearance, and broke the 13-second barrier in the 100-meter hurdles at 12.99.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Sandi Morris — Arkansas

Morris, a senior from Greenville, South Carolina, has followed up an NCAA indoor pole vault title with a collegiate outdoor record entering the NCAA Championships. She cleared 15-5¾ (4.72m) at the SEC Championships to break the week-old record of 4.71m by rival Demi Payne of Stephen F. Austin by one centimeter. She nitially broke the collegiate record in April with a vault of 4.62m at the Arkansas Spring invitational, and has won five of six competitions this outdoor season.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Jeannelle Scheper — South Carolina

No woman in the world has jumped higher than Scheper, a senior from Gros-Islet, St. Lucia, who cleared 6-5 (1.96m) at the SEC Championships to defeat three-time NCAA Champion Leontia Kallenou of Georgia. She didn’t miss en route to that meet record and No. 6 jump in collegiate history, eventually falling short on three attempts at 2.00m. She will put her undefeated season on the line once more at the NCAA Championships.

WEST REGION – Jenna Prandini — Oregon

Prandini, a junior from Clovis, California, enters the NCAA Championships tied for sixth among collegians in the long jump at 21-4¾ (6.52m) – the event in which she is a two-time NCAA Champion. She also jumped 21-½ (6.41m) earlier this season at the Oregon Pepsi Team Invitational. She’ll contest this event, as well as the 100 and 200 at the NCAA Championships, as well as potentially the 4×100 relay.

 

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – John Goodridge — Eastern Michigan 

Goodridge, coach of the Eagles in his 14th year, led the squad to the MId-American Conference title as six won event crowns. Four school records were set this year while 11 advanced to the NCAA’s preliminary rounds and three made it to Eugene.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Marcus O’Sullivan — Villanova 

O’Sullivan moved three mid-distance and distance runners to Eugene to go along with the seven who participated in the national qualifying rounds. O’Sullivan has been at the head of the Villanova program for 18 years.

MIDWEST REGION – Mike Turk — Illinois 

Turk, in his 11th year with the Illini, guided the Illini team to its first team Big Ten championship in 21 years. His team scored 145 points outscoring second place by 37 points. In addition, his squad won the HyVee Cup at the Drake Relays which is awarded to the team with the best showing in relay events at the meet. Turk’s team finished the season undefeated and was ranked fifth nationally in the Track & Field News’ dual ranking while being ranked as high as 11th in the USTFCCCA National Team Rankings.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Wes Kittley — Texas Tech 

Kittley’s team has been ranked in the national top 13 for the entirety of the season, including holding a spot in the top 10 for seven weeks. Tech scored 126  team points, third-most in program history, on its way to a second-place finish at the Big 12 Championships, powered by three individual title. Ten Red Raiders in six events will compete at the NCAA’s final rounds Championships. Kittley is in his 16th year as head of the program.

NORTHEAST REGION – Simon Hodnett — LIU Brooklyn 
Hodnett, in his 16th year with the Blackbirds, coached his squad to its first-ever team title at IC4A Championships, defeating three-conference champion: Navy (Patriot League), Albany (America East), and George Mason (Atlantic 10). The team had six individuals and both relays qualify for the NCAA Prelim rounds.

SOUTH REGION – Mike Holloway — Florida 

Holloway, leader of the Gators in his 20th year, was the SEC Coach of the Year as he led UF to the league crown for the first time since 2010. The Gators won six events at the conference meet, including collegiate-leader Marquis Dendy in the jumps and the No. 1 4×400 squad in the country. Florida is ranked No. 1 with 13 qualifiers for the final rounds in Eugene.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Mario Sategna — Texas 

Sategna, in his second year leading the Longhorns, led Texas to the Big 12 Conference title with a big win. Longhorns tallied 151 points to win by 24¼. He coached Johannes Hock and Wolf Mahler to a 1-2 finish in the decathlon as four event titles were claimed at the conference meet. Named Big 12 Coach of the Year by his peers, his squad qualified nine entries to the NCAA finals in Eugene.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Erik Jenkins — Western Kentucky 

Jenkins, leader of the Western Kentucky program in his eighth year, has a group with three entries into the NCAA finals — including a 4×100 relay and an entry in the javelin and long jump.

WEST REGION – Robert Johnson — Oregon 

Johnson, in his third year heading up the Ducks, guided UO to an NCAA-leading 23 entries to the national finals. The Ducks enter the season finale as the No. 2-ranked team in the country.

 

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Walt Drenth — Michigan State 

Drenth, in his ninth year at Michigan State, advanced nine qualifiers for the NCAA’s final rounds in Eugene — a program record. His squad won the Big Ten title for the first time since 1982 and they are ranked No. 14 in the USTFCCCA National Team Rankings. Leah O’Connor won three conference distance crowns to lead the Spartans.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Gina Procaccio — Villanova 

Procaccio’s squad secured the Big East title by 109 points, scoring 247 overall. At the Penn Relays, the Wildcats won the DMR and the 4×800. Villanova advanced two to the NCAA final rounds and eight to the preliminary rounds. Procaccio is in her 15th year with the program.

MIDWEST REGION – Cliff Rovelto — Kansas State 

Rovelto, in his 23rd year at Kansas State, led the Wildcats to a second-place showing at the Big 12 Championships, coming within 12 points of league winner, Texas. Advancing 10 entries to the NCAA final rounds, including three in the high jump, K-State is ranked 10th nationally.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Brian Bedard — Colorado State 

Bedard, in his 26th year with Colorado State, was named Mountain West Coach of the Year after leading the Rams to the conference crown. The program earned 14 all-conference awards and had nine conference winners. Five school records have been broken this year and the team moved three to the NCAA’s final rounds in throwing events.

NORTHEAST REGION – Jason Saretsky — Harvard 

Saretsky, head of the Crimson squad in his ninth season, was named the Ivy League’s Coach of the Year. With 157 points, the second-most total in program history, Harvard claimed the Ivy’s Heps crown. Okwelogu was named the Field Athlete of the Meet with wins in the discus and shot. Harvard had 13 qualifiers to the NCAA’s preliminary rounds.

SOUTH REGION – Amy Deem — Miami (Fla.) 

Deem, in her 25th year with the Hurricanes, has coached the current world leader in the 400 meters — Shakima Wimbley. Wimble won the ACC crown in both the 200 and 400 meters and was named the league’s Track MVP. The team had nine qualifiers for the preliminary rounds and five to the final rounds.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Lance Harter — Arkansas 

Harter, in his 25th year with Arkansas, led his program to a triple-crown sweep of SEC titles for the academic year. Harter was named the SEC Coach of the Year and distance events accounted for 66 of the team’s 127 points. The team advanced 17 entries to the NCAA finals in Eugene.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Edrick Floreal — Kentucky 

Floreal, in his third year heading the Kentucky program, qualified 13 for the NCAA’s finals — the most among region teams and is ranked No. 3 in the country. The squad finished third at the SEC meet — its best since 1982.

WEST REGION – Caryl Smith Gilbert — Southern California 

Smith Gilbert, in just her second year leading USC, has led the program to a No. 1-national ranking and a runner-up showing in the Pac-12, scoring a school-record point total. The team advanced 16 to the NCAA finals in Eugene.

 

MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Dave Astrauskas — Wisconsin 

Astrauskas, in his sixth year coaching throwers at Wisconsin, has three men competing in the NCAA finals.  Mike Lihrman took second in the Big Ten hammer and broke the conference record earlier in the season with a toss of 75.29 (247-0).  His teammates Scott Erickson made it out of the West Prelims in the hammer and Alex Thompson made it out in the discus.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Robert Farrell — Rutgers

Farrell mentored Emeka Eze to a Big Ten title in the long jump—the first ever Big Ten conference title for a Rutgers athlete.  His field-eventers scored thirty out of Rutgers’ thirty-six points at the conference championship, and two of them (Thomas Carr and Chris Mirabelli) qualified for the NCAA finals in the javelin. Farrell is in his third year as the field coach at Rutgers.

MIDWEST REGION – Adrian Wheatley — Illinois

Wheatley’s athletes—the Illini sprinters and hurdlers—helped their teammates to their first Big Ten team title in over two decades.  DJ Zahn won the conference in the 400, Brandon Stryganek won the Big Ten in the 100, and Cam Viney best the rest of the conference in the 400 hurdles.  Viney, Zahn, David Kendziera (also 400 hurdles), and 4×400 and 4×100 meter relays are Illinois’s sprint contingent at the NCAA finals.  Wheatley is in his fourth year at Illinois.

MOUNTAIN REGION – James Thomas — Texas Tech 
Thomas, in his third year coaching the jumpers and combined event athletes at Texas Tech, is the guiding force behind one of 2015’s most dynamic high jump corps. JaCorian Duffield is the collegiate leader at 7-7 (2.31m), Bradley Adkins is No. 4 at 7-4¼ (2.24m) and frosh Trey Culver also qualified to Eugene. He also guided Jerome Wilson to NCAAs in the long jump for a total of four qualifiers. His athletes scored 33 points at the Big 12 Championships.

NORTHEAST REGION – Megan Johnson — Cornell

Johnson, in her fifth year coaching the throwers at Cornell, has mentored two athletes to the NCAA Championships. Under her tutelage, Stephen Mozia was named Most Outstanding Field Performer at the Ivy League Championships after winning the shot put and finishing runner-up in the discus and the hammer throw. He made NCAAs in the shot put, while Rudy Winkler won the Ivy hammer throw title and broke the school record en route to qualifying in that event.

SOUTH REGION – Ryan Vanhoy — Mississippi

Never before has Mississippi had such a middle-distance presence at the NCAA Championships, thanks to second-year distance coach Ryan Vanhoy. He guided two men to berths at 1500 meters – the first NCAA qualifiers in that event in Ole Miss history – and two more at 800 meters for the first qualifiers in that event since 1991. Notably, Craig Engels went 3:40.28 at 1500 meters for the No. 9 spot on the 2015 collegiate list.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Kris Grimes — Texas A&M 

Grimes’  group of jumpers and combined event athletes scored 26 points at the SEC Championships as A&M tied for second (95). Latario Collie broke the SEC meet record held by Florida’s Christian Taylor with runner-up mark of 56-4½ (17.18). The mark was also a Texas A&M school record. Freshman Wyatt was second in the pole vault at SECs, clearing a career-best 17-11¾ (5.48), making him second best freshman in nation. Grimes is in his second year at Texas A&M.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Martin Maric — Virginia 

Maric, in his third year as throws coach at Virginia, has coached three-event national qualifier Young along with two-event national qualifier Mihaljevic to Eugene. His athletes went five-for-five in qualifying opportunities to Eugene. Jordan Young was named the Field MVP at the ACC meet and Maric’s group scored 42 of the ‘Hoos’ 100 points in the squad’s runner-up showing.

WEST REGION – Andy Powell — Oregon 

Powell, in his tenth year at Oregon, has guided the UO distance group to ten entries at the NCAA finals. The Ducks will have four competitors in the 5000, three in the 1500, two in the 10,000 and one in the steeplechase. Powell and the Dukcs had 19 distance entries at the preliminaries.

 

WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

GREAT LAKES REGION – Angela Goodman — Purdue

Under sprints coach Goodman, Purdue will have athletes competing in the NCAA women’s finals in the 4×100, 4×400, and 100 meter hurdles.  Devynne Charlton won the Big Ten 100 and teamed up to win a conference title in the 4×100 meter relay.  Goodman’s women broke school records in the 4×100, 4×400, and shuttle hurdle relays this year.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Dan Frake — Bucknell

Second-year throws coach Frake had athletes score fifty-nine points en route to a team title at the Patriot League championships.  Sophia Nnadi brok Bucknell and conference marks in the shot put with a toss of 15.20m (49-10.5); that mark qualified her for the NCAA East Prelims.

MIDWEST REGION – John Smith — Southern Illinois

In his eleventh year as the throws coach at Southern Illinois, Smith has two women competing at the NCAA finals.  Raven Saunders broke MVC, SIU, and US junior records in the shot put, in which she has the second best NCAA mark this year.  And DeAnna Price heads to Oregon with the third best hammer throw among collegians this year.

MOUNTAIN REGION – James Thomas — Texas Tech

Thomas, in his third year coaching the jumpers and combined event athletes at Texas Tech, will send three jumpers to the NCAA Championships. He coached triple jumper Paetyn Revell to No. 4 in the nation with a jump of 44-¾ (13.43m) that toppled a 25-year-old school record. Led by heptathlon winner Natalie Thompson, his athletes contributed 40 points to Texas Tech’s third-place Big 12 finish.

NORTHEAST REGION – Robert Hoppler – New Hampshire

Hoppler, in his 15th year guiding the New Hampshire mid-distance and distance runners, led his athletes to a sweep of the endurance events at the America East Championship. They won each event from 800 meters through 10,000 meters – including a 1-2-3 finish in the latter and a 1-2 effort in the steeplechase – for a total of 101 points. He will coach two steeplechasers at the NCAA Championships.

SOUTH REGION – Petros Kyprianou — Georgia

Kyprianou, in his seventh year coaching the multis, jumps and pole vault at Georgia, guided five athletes to the NCAA Championships, including collegiate triple jump leader and American Junior Record holder Keturah Orji. Led by SEC winner Orji, his crew scored 43 of Georgia’s 64 points at the SEC Championships. He also mentored Quintunya Chapman to the No. 9 spot on the all-time collegiate heptathlon list in just her second season competing in the event.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Tonja Buford-Bailey — Texas 

Buford-Bailey, in her second year at Texas, led the Longhorn sprints, hurdles, and relay crew to a sweep of sprint titles at the Big 12 meet. In the 200 meters alone, UT scored 23 points  with five of the top eight scorers. Nine entries qualified and advanced to the final rounds in Eugene in her event areas. 

SOUTHEAST REGION – Shawn Wilbourn — Duke 

Wilbourn, Duke’s combined events, pole vaults, sprints and hurdles coach, guided three to the NCAA final rounds. Pole Vaulters Megan Clark and Madison Heath along with heptathlete Teddi Maslowski comprise Wilbourn’s crew for Eugene. This is Wilbourn’s seventh year with the team.

WEST REGION – Curtis Taylor — Oregon 

Taylor, in his second year coaching Oregon sprints and hurdles, has coached two of the top sprinters in the country this season in Jenna Prandini and Jasmine Todd. At 100 meters, Prandini ran the fastest time in the NCAA this season (10.92) while Todd ran the third-fastest all-conditions time in NCAA history (10.88). He also helped Sasha Wallace qualify in the 100 hurdles while setting a PR and school record of 13.00 at the Pac-12 Championships. The Ducks will have both relays represented at the national finals in Eugene.