May 21, 2007

May 21, 2007

USTFCCCA names regional award winners for Division II track and field

Defending NCAA champions Abilene Christian University and Lincoln University are among the honorees as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named its regional coaches and athletes of the year for the Division II outdoor track season.

Don D. Hood of Abilene Christian is the South Central Region Men's Coach of the Year. Hood's Mustangs won the NCAA men's championship last spring and should contend at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships that begin Thursday and continue through Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.

Victor Thomas of Lincoln (Mo.) is the South Central Region Women's Coach of the Year. The Blue Tigers have national leaders in six events as they take aim at a fifth consecutive NCAA Division II women's outdoor championship.

Abilene Christian distance ace Nicodemus Naimadu and Lincoln standouts Wilbert Walker and Carla Thomas also received regional honors.

The following coaches and athletes won Division II regional awards as determined by coaches from the respective eight regions:

EAST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Trenton Huntsinger, Wheeling Jesuit University

Huntsinger guided the Cardinals to their eighth West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the last 11 years. Wheeling Jesuit is sending three athletes to this week's NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Charlotte, N.C. Huntsinger is in his fourth season as Wheeling Jesuit's head coach.

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

Papa led Slippery Rock to a 74-point victory in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet, his fourth women's title in the last five years. His women also won the PSAC indoor title this winter. The Rock is sending eight women to the NCAA meet this week. Papa has coached Slippery Rock's track and cross country programs since 1987.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Jeff Weiss, Slippery Rock University

Weiss, a three-time All-American for the Green and White, won the 5,000 meters at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships. He will compete in the 10,000 at the NCAA Championships. Weiss is a freshman from Avella, Pa.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Andi Rose, Slippery Rock University

Rose was named the most valuable performer at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet, winning the 100 and 400 hurdles and contributing a leg to the Rock's victorious 4 x 400 relay. Rose, a senior from Wheeling, W.Va., ranks among the nation's top four performers in both hurdle events.

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

Broadbent, a senior from West Grove, Pa., will compete in three jumping events at the NCAA Championships. He won the long jump, triple jump and high jump at the PSAC Championships and has season bests of 23-11¾, 48-3½ and 6-10¾.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Leslie Martin, East Stroudsburg University

Martin qualified for the NCAA Championships in the high jump (5-7¾) and heptathlon (4,901 points). She finished second in the long, triple and high jump events at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet. Martin is a junior from Hudson Falls, N.Y.

GREAT LAKES REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Jud Logan, Ashland University

Logan's Eagles finished second to Grand Valley State at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. Seven male athletes will represent Ashland in this week's NCAA Division II Championships, including the top-seeded performers in the shot put (Bryan Vickers), discus (Kibwe Johnson) and hammer (Johnson).

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

Baltes is accompanying 11 of his female athletes to the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. The Lakers won their eighth straight Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's title earlier this month, finishing more than 100 points ahead of runner-up Ashland. This is Baltes's eighth season as the head track and cross country coach at Grand Valley State.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Paul Jellema, University of Southern Indiana

Jellema will double in the 5,000 and 10,000 at the NCAA Championships. He is seeded third in the 5,000 (14:06.96) and fifth in the 10,000 (29:17.81). Jellema, a junior from Dyer, Ind., won both distance events at the Great Lakes Valley Conference meet.

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

Zemba furthered her status as the greatest female distance runner in GLIAC history by winning the 1,500 and 3,000 at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet. She set GLIAC meet records in both races. Zemba, a senior from Menominee, Mich., has the nation's fastest Division II times in the 3,000 (9:24.13) and 5,000 (15:38.54). She is the defending NCAA outdoor champion in both events.

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

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion enters the NCAA Division II Championships with the top performances in the discus (194-0) and hammer (241-3). Johnson, a senior from North Gwinnett, Ga., earlier this year won the NCAA Division II indoor title in the 35 pound weight throw with a toss of 82-3½ - the longest throw in history by a collegian in any division.

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

Tinney was the most valuable performer in the field events at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet, winning the shot put and discus and finishing third in the hammer. A junior from Norwalk, Ohio, Tinney enters the NCAA Championships seeded second in the shot (49-9¾), fifth in the hammer (178-10) and 13th in the discus (149-3).

NORTHEAST REGION

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

Maloney's Owls dominated the Northeast-10 Championships, scoring 208 points to finish more than 60 points ahead of Massachusetts-Lowell. In his seventh season at Southern Connecticut, Maloney will take five men to the NCAA Division II Championships this week in Charlotte, N.C.

Women's Coach of the Year: Jim Barber, Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State won 13 individual titles en route to claiming the team championship at the Northeast-10 meet. SCSU's Kate Reynolds qualified for the NCAA Championships in the hammer throw. Barber is in his 20th season as the head women's coach at Southern Connecticut State.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Hafiz Greigre, Bryant University

Greigre won the 100 and 200 and placed second in the long jump at the Northeast-10 Championships. At the New England Championships, he won the 400 in 46.37. Greigre, a senior from Attleboro, Mass., is seeded second in the 400 and 10th in the 200 (21.02) entering this week's NCAA Division II Championships.

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

Plante has the top Division II time in the country by more than 80 seconds in the 10,000 meters (34:07.03) as well as the second-best time in the 5,000 (16:32.56). Plante, a senior from North Adams, Mass., set a meet record in the 3,000 at the Northeast-10 Championships and placed second in the 3,000 at the ECAC-IC4A Championships. She finished third in the 10,000 at last year's NCAA outdoor meet.

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

Keizer won the Northeast-10 title and placed second at the All New England Championships in the triple jump. A junior from Great Neck, N.Y., Keizer qualified for the NCAA Championships with a best mark of 49-1.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Toni-Mari Henry, University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Henry qualified for the NCAA Championships in the triple jump with a best mark of 39-9½. That performance came in winning the Northeast-10 title. In a season limited by injury, Henry also finished second in the 100 meters at the Northeast-10 Championships. She is a senior from Springfield, Mass.

NORTH CENTRAL REGION

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

The Grizzlies won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference title with 279½ points, the highest winning total in RMAC history. Martin has been named the RMAC coach of the year 51 times in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track. Adams State is sending 18 men to the NCAA Championships.

Women's Coach of the Year: Lucky Huber, University of South Dakota

In his 11th season as the women's coach at South Dakota, Huber guided the Coyotes to their fourth straight North Central Conference championship. South Dakota is sending four women to the NCAA Championships. Huber has won 11 NCC titles during his tenure at South Dakota.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Kim Hogarth, Western State College

Hogarth won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and 5,000 meters at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships. His 8:29.12 clocking in the steeplechase earlier this month at Stanford is the third-fastest time in Division II history. Hogarth, a sophomore from Nelson, New Zealand, was named the NCAA Division II All-Academic Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Molly Belling, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Belling was named the North Central Conference's outstanding track performer after winning the 100 and 200 meters at the NCC meet. Belling has the nation's fastest time in the 100 (11.49) and the second-fastest clocking in the 200 (23.64). The sophomore from Omaha placed third in the 200 at the 2006 NCAA Championships.

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

Dilling won the high jump and long jump at the North Central Conference Championships. A three-time national champion (indoors and outdoors) in the high jump, Dilling leads all Division II performers this spring with a best of 7-6½. He is a senior from Fond du Lac, Wisc.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Katelin Rains, Minnesota State University Mankato

Rains won the pole vault, long jump andtriple jump at the North Central Conference Championships. The sophomore from Spring Lake Park won the NCAA indoor title in the pole vault earlier this year and leads the national outdoor list at 13-3¾ heading into this week's NCAA Outdoor Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Men's Coach of the Year; Don D. Hood, Abilene Christian University

Hood's Mustangs will defend their NCAA outdoor championship this week in Charlotte, N.C. Abilene Christian qualified 17 men in 12 different events. The Mustangs won their 14th straight Lone Star Conference title this spring. Hood is in his second season as the head track and field coach at ACU.

Women's Coach of the Year: Victor Thomas, Lincoln University

The Blue Tigers take aim at a fifth straight NCAA women's championship under Thomas, who will accompany 12 of his athletes to this week's nationals in Charlotte, N.C. Davita Prendergast (200 and 400), Carla Thomas (100 and 400 hurdles) and both relays have the best Division II times in the country.

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

Naimadu has the top Division II time in the 10,000 (28:06.26) and is seeded second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (8:35.55) entering this week's NCAA Championships. Naimadu has won 10 individual national titles during his remarkable collegiate career. He is a junior from Narok, Kenya.

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Carla Thomas, Lincoln University

Thomas enters this week's NCAA Championships with the nation's top marks in the 100 hurdles (13.57) and 400 hurdles (57.31). A junior from Kingston, Jamaica, Thomas placed second in both hurdles at last year's NCAA outdoor meet.

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

Walker won the long jump and triple jump at last year's NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. With marks of 25-5½ and 53-11¼ this spring, he's favored to repeat his 2006 titles. Walker is a junior from St. Thomas, Jamaica.

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

Selby has the nation's best marks in the shot put (49-10) and hammer (185-0) entering the NCAA meet. Selby, a junior from Galena, Mo., has won three straight Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles in the shot put and also won the MIAA hammer this spring.

SOUTH REGION

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

Hill guided Morehouse to a 10th-place finish at last year's NCAA outdoor meet, and the Maroon Tigers appear to be similarly strong this year. Morehouse won its second straight Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and will have eight men competing in this week's NCAA Championships, including Keith Moffatt, the defending champion in the high jump.

Women's Coach of the Year: Ken Taylor, Albany State University

Taylor guided the Golden Rams to the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship with 310 points, nearly doubling the total of runner-up Benedict College. Six of Taylor's women will compete in this week's NCAA Championships. Albany State's 4 x 100 relay team is seeded second in the country with a best of 45.21.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Damian Prince, Morehouse College

Prince won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the 400 hurdles and has the second-fastest time in the country (51.03) heading into the NCAA Division II Championships. Prince, a junior from Decatur, Ga., also anchors Morehouse's top-seeded 4 x 400 relay (3:08.38).

Women's Track Athlete of the Year: Jasmine Peck, Albany State University

Peck qualified for the NCAA Championships in three events: 100, 200 and 4 x 100 relay. She is seeded seventh in the 100 (11.71) and sixth in the 200 (23.95). Peck, a senior from Macon, Ga., won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in the 200.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Randall Flimmons, Morehouse College

Flimmons won the long jump and javelin at the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships. A senior from Columbus, Miss., Flimmons qualified for the NCAA Championships in the long jump (24-11) and triple jump (50-1¾).

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Jana Mrozkova, Albany State College

The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion in the triple jump qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in that event as well as the long jump. Mrozkova, a senior from Trinec, Czech Republic, is seeded third in the triple jump at 41-2½.

SOUTHEAST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Michael Lawson, North Carolina Central University

Lawson's men finished second to national power St. Augustine's at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships. Earlier this year, North Carolina Central finished third at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships. Ten of Lawson's athletes will compete in this week's NCAA outdoor meet in Charlotte, N.C.

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

Williams always takes a powerhouse team to NCAA meets, and this year's group keeps up the tradition. St. Augustine's easily won the Cental Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's championship. The Falcons have 10 women competing in this week's NCAA Championships. St. Augustine's won the 2007 NCAA Division II women's indoor title.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Karjuan Williams, North Carolina Central University

Williams won the 800 and placed second in the 400 at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association meet. He enters this week's NCAA Championships as the second-seeded entrant in the 800 (1:49.17) and ranks fifth in the 400 (46.64). Williams, a freshman from New Bern, N.C., also runs on North Carolina Central's fifth-seeded 4 x 400 relay (3:10.10).

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

Liles finished second in the 200 and 400 meters at last year's NCAA outdoor meet. She enters this week's NCAA Championships ranked among the top four in both events with bests of 23.75 and 53.17. Liles, a junior from Austin, Texas, won the 200 and 400 at this year's Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association meet.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Mark Davis, North Carolina Central University

Davis won the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in the high jump with a 7-3 clearance. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in the high jump and long jump (24-6½). Davis is a freshman from Cape Floral, Fla.

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

Ferguson won three events (high jump, long jump and triple jump) at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships, and she hasn't missed a step outdoors. She has the top Division II marks in the high jump (6-0) and triple jump (43-5) and is seeded second in the long jump (20-4½). Ferguson, a senior from Melbourne, Fla., also runs on St. Augustine's sprint relay.

WEST REGION

Men's Coach of the Year: Kirk Freitas, California State University Chico

The head coach at Chico State since 1979, Freitas enjoyed one of his best seasons, guiding the Wildcats to a fourth straight California Collegiate Athletic Association men's championship. Particularly strong in the distance events, Chico State will have seven men competing in this week's NCAA Championships.

Women's Coach of the Year: Tony Salerno, University of California San Diego

Salerno's Tritons are well rounded, with 12 athletes qualifying for the NCAA Championships in 10 events. UC San Diego ran away with the California Collegiate Athletic Association women's championship, scoring 265½ points. Salerno is in his eighth season as the head track coach at UCSD.

Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Scott Bauhs, California State University Chico

Bauhs, a sophomore from Danville, Calif., enters the NCAA Championships with the nation's fastest Division II time in the 5,000 (13:40.63) and third-fastest clocking in the 10,000 (28:54.55). Bauhs won the 1,500 at the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championships earlier this month.

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

Pixler won the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships earlier this year and heads to outdoor nationals seeded first in the 1,500 (4:19.81) and second in the 800 (2:08.13). Pixler, a freshman from Sammamish, Wash., won three events at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference meet - the 800, 1,500 and 3,000.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year: Desi Burt, California State University Los Angeles

Burt won the high jump, long jump and high hurdles at the California Collegiate Athletic Association meet earlier this month. He qualified for the NCAA Championships in the decathlon and high jump. His decathlon score of 7,157 points makes him the top-seeded entrant. Burt is a junior from San Diego.

Women's Field Athlete of the Year: Whitney Johnson, University of California San Diego

Johnson heads to North Carolina for the NCAA Championships for double duty in the long and triple jumps. The junior from Bakersfield is seeded second in the triple jump (41-3¾) and ranks fourth in the long jump (19-5½).