March 5, 2007

St. Augustine's College swept all six available honors as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named its regional award winners for the 2007 Division II indoor track and field season.

George Williams, a member of the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame, is the Southeast Region Men's and Women's Coach of the Year. Williams guided the Falcons to runaway men's and women's victories at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships last month.

Joining their coach in winning Southeast Region awards are St. Augustine's Joseph Kindred (Men's Field Athlete), Kwonya Ferguson (Women's Field Athlete), Philippe DeRosier (Men's Track Athlete) and Johnsie Liles (Women's Track Athlete).

St. Augustine's will defend its Men's title Friday and Saturday at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Roxbury, Mass. The Falcons finished third in the Women's scoring at last year's championships behind Lincoln and Abilene Christian.

Lincoln jumper Wilbert Walker, the defending NCAA Division II indoor champion in the long and triple jumps, is the South Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Division II national winners will be selected this week and will be posted at www.ustfccca.org. The following coaches and athletes won Division II regional awards:

EAST REGION

Men's Co-Coaches of the Year: Aaron Russell / Heather Leverington, Lock Haven University

Russell and Leverington coached the Eagles to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference indoor title. Six of Russell's male athletes won PSAC individual titles, including Ryan Blood, who broke conference indoor records in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters. Russell currently serves as secretary of the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Women's Coach of the Year: John Papa, Slippery Rock University

"The Rock" won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference indoor title by 76½ points over second-place Lock Haven. That was Papa's 12th PSAC championship (outdoor track, indoor track and cross country) since becoming Slippery Rock's head coach in 1987. Slippery Rock qualified its 4x400 relay team along with two individuals for this week's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Eric Broadbent, West Chester University

Broadbent won the long and triple jumps and placed second in the high jump at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference for the Golden Rams. Broadbent, a senior from West Grove, Pa., enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with a best triple jump of 49-9¾.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Erin Lines, Wheeling Jesuit University

Lines, a sophomore from Blacklick, Ohio, enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships as the ninth-longest performer in the weight throw (56-4). Lines also put the shot 45-1 for the Cardinals this winter.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Ryan Blood, Lock Haven University

Blood, a senior from Summerdale, Pa., set meet records in winning the 3,000 (8:18.03) and 5,000 meters (14:27.09) at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships. Blood finished fourth at the 2006 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Erin Richard, Clarion University

Richard won her fifth Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference title this winner, claiming the mile at the PSAC indoor meet. A junior from Erie, Richard is ranked among the top 10 nationally in the 5,000 with a best of 17:09.48.

GREAT LAKES REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Dave Astrauskas, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Astrauskas guided SIUE to the Great Lakes Valley Conference indoor title, finishing nearly 50 points in front of the field. The Cougars qualified two men for the NCAA Division II Championships - sprinter Kyle Rose and shot putter Scott Block.

Women's Coach of the Year: Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley State University

Baltes led the Lakers to their eighth straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title this season. Grand Valley State qualified 13 women, including Mandi Zemba, the nation's top-ranked performer in the 5,000 meters, to the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Kibwe Johnson, Ashland University

Johnson is the longest Division II performer in history in the 35-pound weight throw (79-10¼ ). The powerful senior from Georgia also topped the 79-foot barrier in winning his specialty at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. Johnson is the longest thrower in NCAA history, regardless of division.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Jennifer Tinney, Ashland University

Tinney won the shot put and placed fifth in the weight throw for Ashland at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet. Tinney finished third at the 2006 NCAA Division II indoor meet and enters this weekend's championship meet with the third-longest mark (48-0½). She is a junior from Nowalk, Ohio.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Jared Krout, Hillsdale College

Krout, a freshman from Forest, Ohio, was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference male indoor athlete of the year after winning three events (200 and 400 meters and long jump) at the GLIAC meet. Krout qualified for this weekend's NCAA Division II meet in all three events and is seeded sixth in both the 200 (21.58) and long jump (23-1¾).

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Mandi Zemba, Grand Valley State University

Zemba enters this week's national championships with the fastest time in the 5,000 meters (16:17.23). A senior from Menominee, Mich., Zemba was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's top track performer after winning the 3,000 in a meet-record 9:40.99. Zemba anchors the nation's top-ranked Division II distance medley relay team.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Marlon Brink, Wayne State College

Brink's Wildcats won their second straight Northern Sun Conference men's indoor title last month. Wayne State sophomore Ben Jansen became the first male athlete since 2003 to qualify for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships when he advanced in the 800-meter run. This is Brink's seventh season as Wayne State's head track coach.

Women's Coach of the Year: Damon Martin, Adams State College

Martin's Grizzlies swept the men's and women's titles at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference indoor meet for the fourth straight year. Martin, the NCAA Division II Silver Anniversary Coach in women's cross country, has won 17 National Coach of the Year Awards in track and field and cross country.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Jim Dilling, Minnesota State Mankato

Dilling, the defending NCAA indoor champion, leads all Division II jumpers this winter at 7-6½. Dilling, a senior from Fond du Lac, Wisc., also qualified for nationals in the long jump with a best of 23-7¼. In his career, Dilling has been named the North Central Conference's male indoor athlete of the week 12 times.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Tianecia Mosley, Adams State College

Mosley, the NCAA Division II outdoor champion in the heptathlon, enters this week's indoor nationals as the top-ranked performer in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53) and second in the long jump (20-1). Mosley, a senior from Colorado Springs, finished fifth in both the hurdles and long jump at last year's NCAA indoor meet.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Nick Lara, Adams State College

Lara is the defending NCAA Division II indoor champion in the 800 meters and tops this year's national list with a best of 1:49.94. Lara, a junior from Alamosa, Colo., also ran the third leg on the Grizzlies' distance medley relay team that clocked a nation-leading 9:38.33 at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Heather Beresford, Colorado School of Mines

In the distance-strong Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, Beresford won the 800-meter and mile titles last month. A senior from Monument, Colo., Beresford enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships ranked third in the mile (4:55.76) and fourth in the 5,000 (17:00.52).

WEST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Kevin Adkisson, Central Washington University

Adkisson coached the Wildcats to their first-ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor championship last month. Two of his athletes - Cameron Neel (shot put) and Robert Edwards (hurdles - set GNAC meet records in winning their events. Neel and Evan Ruud (weight throw) qualified for this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Roxbury, Mass.

Women's Coach of the Year: Karl Lerum, Seattle Pacific University

In just his second season at Seattle Pacific, Lerum has led the Falcons to a pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference women's indoor championships. Jessica Pixler is the top-seeded entrant in the women's mile at this week's nationals. Seattle Pacific teammate Teonna Perkins is seeded third in the high jump.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Cameron Neel, Central Washington University

Neel won his third straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor championship in the shot put and has a best of 58-10¼. That mark places Neel third on the national list heading into this weekend's NCAA indoor meet. A senior from Woodinville, Wash., Neel placed third last year at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Teona Perkins, Seattle Pacific University

Perkins is well-positioned to improve on her sixth-place finish at last year's NCAA indoor meet. A senior from Kennewick, Wash., Perkins has cleared 5-8¾, placing her third on the national list.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Joel Stallworth, California State University Stanislaus

Stallworth shattered a 30-year-old school record in the men's 400 meters by clocking 47.75. The senior from Stockton has the sixth-fastest Division II clocking entering this weekend's NCAA meet in Massachusetts. Stallworth is also a member of the Cal State Stanislaus 4 x 400 relay team that clocked 3:14.75 to qualify for nationals.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific University

Pixler was outstanding at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships, shattering meet records in the mile (4:54.53) and 800 (2:11.52). Pixler, a freshman from Sammamish, Wash., enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships with the fastest time in the mile (4:48.20).

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Tom Rutledge, Missouri Southern State University

Rutledge continues to enjoy success in his 18th season at Missouri Southern, guiding the Lions to their first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference men's indoor title. Missouri Southern's men were particularly dominant, placing 1-2-3-6 in the pole vault at the MIAC meet.

Women's Co-Coaches of the Year: Kirk Pederson / Kip Janvrin, University of Central Missouri

Central Missouri won the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference women's title with 145 points, nearly doubling the score of runner-up Pittsburg State. The Jennies won five events at the MIAC meet with Chelsea Luck claiming three titles.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Wilbert Walker, Lincoln University

Walker is the defending NCAA indoor and outdoor champion in both the long and triple jumps. A sophomore from St. Thomas, Jamaica, Walker again leads all Division II triple jumpers with a 2007 best of 53-7. He is ranked second in the long jump at 25-5¼.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Jessica Selby, Missouri Southern State University

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Conference indoor champion in the shot put, Selby heads into this weekend's NCAA Division II Championships seeded second with a 2007 best of 49-3. Selby, a junior from Galena, Mo., finished seventh at last year's indoor nationals.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Nicodemus Naimadu, Abilene Christian University

With 10 NCAA individual titles, Naimadu can lay claim to being the finest distance runner in Division II history. The three-time NCAA Division II men's cross country champion enters this week's national indoor meet with the fastest time in the 5,000 (14:01.86) as well as the fourth-fastest clocking in the mile (4:07.81). Naimadu is a junior from Narok, Kenya.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Davita Prendergast, Lincoln University

Prendergast was one of the key's to Lincoln's team title at the 2006 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships, and she's even faster this season. Prendergast, a sophomore from Westmoreland, Jamaica, has the nation's fastest times in the 200 (23.91) and 400 (53.59).

SOUTHEAST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: George Williams, St. Augustine's College

Williams's defending NCAA Division II indoor champions won their 22nd Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's indoor title last month, prevailing by nearly 100 points. St. Augustine's won 10 of 14 individual events. Williams served as the head coach of the U.S. Olympic men's track and field team in 2004 and was inducted into the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame the following year.

Women's Coach of the Year: George Williams, St. Augustine's College

Just as his men's team swept to another Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association title last month, Williams guided the St. Augustine's women to their 13th CIAA championship. The Falcons won nine of 12 individual events at their conference meet and have the nation's top performers in four events heading into this week's NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Joseph Kindred, St. Augustine's College

Kindred won the long jump and finished second in the high jump and was named the outstanding male field event performer at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships. Kindred, a sophomore with a 2007 best of 7-1½, competed in the high jump at the 2006 IAAF World Junior Championships.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Kwonya Ferguson, St. Augustine's College

The St. Augustine's standout heads into the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships with the nation's best marks in the long jump (20-11¼), triple jump (43-7¾ ) and high jump (5-11¼). Ferguson, a junior from Melbourne, Fla., won individual titles in each event at the Central Interccollegiate Athletic Association Championships.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Philipe DeRosier, St. Augustine's College

DeRosier won the 60-meter dash and 200 meters at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and has the nation's fastest times in both events at 6.73 and 21.22. (He shares the top 60 seed with St. Augustine's teammate Dennis Boone.) DeRosier, won the 200 at last year's NCAA Division II indoor and outdoor championships as a sophomore.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Johnsie Liles, St. Augustine's College

Liles finished first in the 200 and 400 meters at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Indoor Championships last month in Newport News, Va. The St. Augustine's junior ranks second in the 400 (53.84) and fifth in the 200 (24.45) entering this weekend's NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships.

NORTHEAST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Jack Maloney, Southern Connecticut State University

Maloney's Eagles won their fourth straight Northeast-10 Conference men's indoor championship and finished third behind a pair of Division I schools at the New England Indoors. Maloney is in his seventh year as SCSU's head coach.

Women's Coach of the Year: Gary Gardner, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Gardner's River Hawks finished second at the Northeast-10 Conference Indoor Championships. Nicole Plante is the second-ranked performer nationally among Division II runners in the 5,000. Gardner is in his fourth season as head coach in Lowell.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Robert Keizer, Southern Connecticut State University

Keizer won the triple jump and placed second in the long jump at the Northeast-10 meet. A junior from Great Neck, N.Y., Keizer enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships with the nation's seventh-best mark in the triple jump (49-5).

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Merlene Egbert, Southern Connecticut State University

Egbert, a multi-talented senior from Danbury, Conn., won the long jump, triple jump and high jump at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships. She was named the event's most valuable female performer. Egbert is ranked third nationally in the long jump (19-1½) and fifth in the triple jump (40-2¾) going into the NCAA Division II Championships this weekend in Roxbury, Mass.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Keith Gill, Stonehill College

Gill won the 1,000 meters and was a member of the 4x800 relay team that finished first at the Northeast-10 Conference Championships. Gill, a junior from Brockton, Mass., also placed second at the New England Championships. He heads into the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with the third-fastest time in the mile at 4:07.22.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Nicole Plante, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Plante won the mile at the New England Championships and has clocked 16:57.69 in the 5,000, the second-fastest time in the country heading into this weekend's NCAA meet. Plante, a senior from North Adams, Mass., placed ninth in the 5,000 at last year's NCAA indoor meet.

SOUTH REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Willie Hill, Morehouse College

Hill takes a tremendous group of jumpers to the NCAA Division II Championships this weekend. Keith Moffatt, the reigning NCAA outdoor champion, is ranked second in the high jump at 7-5¾. Evan Flax qualified for nationals in the high jump and triple jump, and Randall Flimmons is ranked first in the long jump (25-6¼).

Women's Coach of the Year: David Cain, University of Alabama Huntsville

In each of his seven seasons at the UAH helm, Cain has had runners qualify for the NCAA Division II nationals. This year he has two - Carlita Thomas (60-meter dash) and Shana Levett (60 hurdles).

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Keith Moffatt, Morehouse College

Moffatt is the second-highest Division II performer in the high jump (7-5¾) behind Minnesota State's Jim Dilling (7-6½). A senior from Newport News, Va., Moffatt was second at the NCAA Division II indoor meet last year and won the outdoor title. He was the third-ranked U.S. high jumper in 2006.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Natasha Gass, Clayton State University

Gass set Clayton State school marks in the long and triple jumps in her freshman season at Clayton State.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Eric Simmons, Clayton State University

Simmons, a junior from Carrollton, Ga., qualified for his second straight NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in the 400 meters. Simmons has the fifth-fastest time nationally at 47.72,.

Women's Field Athlete: Shana Levett, University of Alabama Huntsville

Levett, a senior from Auburn, Ala., qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships in the 60-meter dash with a best of 8.79 seconds. This marks her third straight trip to the indoor nationals, and last winter she earned All-America honors.