USTFCCCA Announces Division I Region Award Winners

USTFCCCA Announces Division I Region Award Winners
Region honors go to best coaches and athletes in each of the nine USTFCCCA award regions



March 9, 2010



NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Tuesday afternoon 72 athletes, assistant coaches and head coaches that received regional awards for their efforts during the 2010 indoor track & field season in NCAA’s Division I as voted by the nation’s coaches.



USTFCCCA Division I Indoor Track & Field Athletes and Coaches of the Year



Men’s Region Track Athletes of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Thomas Murdaugh – Ohio State

Murdaugh, a sophomore from Dublin, Ohio, was the Big Ten Track Athlete of the Year and the Big Ten Athlete of the Meet at the conference championships. Murdaugh took the Big Ten crown in the 400 meters in a time of 46.07, a mark that will place him as the seventh-seed in this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships. Murdaugh also finished second at the Big Ten Championships at 200 meters.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Ryan Foster – Penn State

Foster’s best marks of 1:47.48 in the 800 meters and 2:19.60 in the 1,000 meters are both Penn State and Australian national indoor records, while his 1,000 meter mark ranks him second all-time among collegians. Foster won the Big Ten title in the 800 meters and helped Penn State to a third place finish in the distance medley relay at the conference meet. Foster is a junior from Tasmania, Australia.



MIDWEST REGION – Ronnie Ash – Oklahoma

In just his first season at Oklahoma, Ash leads the nation in the 60-meter hurdles headed into the NCAA Indoor Championships, with a best time of 7.59 set in winning the Big 12 title in the event. The time is a personal best for Ash and a new school record for Oklahoma. Ash is a junior from Raleigh, N.C.



MOUNTAIN REGION – David McNeill – Northern Arizona

McNeill, a senior from Melbourne, Australia, heads into the NCAA Indoor Championships at the top of the list in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, with best times of 7:47.52 and 13:39.32. McNeill competed in three events at the Big Sky Championships, winning the 3,000 meters, taking second in the mile, and anchoring the winning distance medley relay, to lead NAU to the team title.



NORTHEAST REGION – Jarret Eaton – Syracuse

Eaton, a junior from Abington, Pa., is tied for the fifth-fastest mark in the country in the 60-meter hurdles. His season-best mark is 7.68 seconds, set in a winning effort against a talented field at the New Balance Invitational. The mark is also a Syracuse school record.



SOUTH REGION – Torrin Lawrence -Georgia

Sophomore sprinter Lawrence broke the 23-year old collegiate record in the 300 meters and became the fifth-fastest person in history in the event with a time of 32.32. His best time over 400 meters of 45.03 ranks him number one in the country and, currently, number one in the world. Lawrence won the 2010 SEC title in the 400 meters.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Dorian Ulrey – Arkansas

Ulrey won the mile and the 3,000 meters and anchored the winning distance medley relay at the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships to lead the Razorbacks to the team title. His season-best time in the mile of 3:57.80 is the third-best in the NCAA this season, and he also achieved top-10 marks in the 3,000 meters and as a member of the Hogs distance medley relay. Ulrey is a senior from Port Byron, Ill.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Rondel Sorrillo – Kentucky

Sorrillo, a senior from Vessigny, Trinidad & Tobago, has marks in this year’s top-five after an outstanding 2010 regular season campaign. He is currently tied for the second-fastest collegiate mark this season in the 60 meters at 6.60 and comes in at fifth nationally in the 200 meters with a best of 20.77. Sorrillo finished eighth at the SEC Championships in the 60 meters.



WEST REGION – Andrew Wheating – Oregon

Wheating has the top collegiate mark in the country in his signature event heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships. His school-record mark of 1:46.36 for 800 meters is nearly a second faster than any other collegian this season. Wheating competed in the mile at the MPSF Indoor Championships and won the event in a meet record time of 3:58.20, which ranks him sixth nationally in that event.



Men’s Region Field Athletes of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Derek Drouin – Indiana

With a best clearance of 7-5 (2.26m), Drouin is tied for the nation’s best mark in the high jump heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships. He set that mark in winning the 2010 Big Ten title in the event, in meet record and school record fashion, no less. Drouin, a sophomore from Corunna, Ontario, was named the 2010 Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Joe Kovacs – Penn State

Kovacs, a junior, has the fourth-best mark in the NCAA over the course of the regular season with a best mark of 63-6¼ (19.36m). That mark ranks second in Penn State history in the event and represented a personal best for Kovacs by over five feet. Kovacs is from Nazareth, Pa.



MIDWEST REGION – Nick Adcock – Missouri

Adcock has the second-best collegiate mark in the heptathlon with a school-record point total of 5,938 points. He set that mark in winning the Big 12 heptathlon title, breaking the Big 12 meet record in the event in the process. Adcock is a senior from Kansas City, Mo.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Bryce Lamb – Texas Tech

Freshman Bryce Lamb earned the Big 12 High Point Performer award after winning both the long jump and triple jump titles at the 2010 conference meet. His top long jump mark of 26-8½ (8.14m) ranks second among collegians, and his best triple jump mark of 54-½ (16.47m) ranks third in the NCAA. Both marks were set at the Big 12 Championships, and both are school records.



NORTHEAST REGION – Nate Hunter – Northeastern

Hunter, a senior shot put specialist from Gloucester, Mass., won IC4A and New England titles in the event during the 2010 indoor season. His season-best mark of 63-11½ (19.49m) is a school record and the second-best mark recorded during the NCAA regular season.



SOUTH REGION – Christian Taylor - Florida

Taylor is the 2010 SEC indoor triple jump champion with a season-best and national-leading mark of 55-2¾ (16.83m). He also finished third in the long jump at the SEC Championships with a season-best jump of 25-6¾ (7.79m), which ranks thirteenth among collegians. Taylor is a sophomore from Fayetteville, Ga.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Walter Henning – LSU

Henning capped an undefeated regular season in the weight throw with a conference-winning, meet-record performance of 78-1 (23.80m). He has reset the LSU school record three times during the 2010 season, and his season-best mark in the event is over three feet better than any other mark recorded by a collegian in 2010. Henning is a junior from Kings Park, N.Y.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexander Ziegler – Virginia Tech

Ziegler, a freshman from Dischingen, Germany, had a fantastic first-year campaign as a Hokie as he enters the NCAA Indoor Championships as the third seed in the weight throw, amassing a season best in the event of 73-10¼ (22.51m) in capturing his first ACC title.



WEST REGION – Ashton Eaton – Oregon

Eaton reset the Oregon and collegiate record in the heptathlon event in 2010 with a best performance of 6,256 points. That mark is also the fifth-best ever recorded by an American in the event, at any level. He also recorded an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the pole vault with a best of 17-3 (5.26m), good for fourth at the MPSF Championship. Eaton is a senior from Bend, Ore.



Women’s Region Track Athletes of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Molly Beckwith - Indiana

Beckwith achieved NCAA qualifying marks in three events in 2010, including an automatic qualifier in the 800 meters at 2:04.50. That mark currently ranks her fifth in the country among collegians. She reset IU school records in the 600 meters, 800 meters, and as a member of the distance medley relay this season. She won the 2010 Big Ten title in the 600 meters and finished third in the mile. Beckwith is a senior from Worthington, Ohio.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Shavon Greaves – Penn State

Greaves earned three conference titles at the 2010 Big Ten Championships to help Penn State win the team title. She triumphed in the 60 meters, 200 meters, and as a member of the winning 4x400-meter relay. Her season-best mark of 22.98 in the 200 meters is currently ranked first among collegians, and her season-best mark of 7.24 in the 60 meters is a new Penn State record. Greaves is a junior from Lakewood, N.J.



MIDWEST REGION – Lisa Koll – Iowa State

The current national leader in both the 3,000 meters and the 5,000 meters, Koll also won 2010 Big 12 indoor championships in both events. Koll’s season-best time of 15:29.65 is the second-fastest ever recorded by a collegian, on any sized tracks, and nearly 22 seconds better than any other time recorded this season. She also holds a season-best of 8:56.09 in the 3,000 meters. Koll is a senior from Fort Dodge, Iowa.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Blessing Okagbare - UTEP

A senior from Sapele, Nigeria, Okagbare is tied for the nation’s fastest time in the 60 meters heading into this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships and holds the third-fastest among the collegiate ranks in the 200 meters this season. Okagbare’s top 60-meter time of 7.18 is the eleventh-fastest ever recorded by a collegian and ranks ninth in the world this season. She won Conference-USA titles in both events and set both season bests at the conference championships.



NORTHEAST REGION – Holly Van Dalen – Stony Brook

Van Dalen enters the NCAA Indoor Championships with the fourth-fastest 5,000-meter time recorded this season, with a best of 15:55.64. She has also recorded a provisional qualifying time of 9:28.62 in the 3,000 meters. A junior from Wanganui, New Zealand, Van Dalen won 2010 America East Championships in the 3,000 meters and as a member of Stony Brook’s distance medley relay.



SOUTH REGION – Charlotte Browning - Florida

Browning is the 2010 SEC Champion in the mile and the 3,000 meters. Her season-best time in the mile of 4:31.24 ranks first in the NCAA. She also recorded NCAA provisional qualifying marks of 2:05.50 in the 800 meters and 9:21.77 in the 3,000 meters, and she runs on Florida’s NCAA provisional qualifying distance medley relay. Browning is a junior from West Sussex, England.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jessica Beard – Texas A&M

With a season-best of 51.15 seconds in the 400 meters, Beard currently ranks number one in the country in the event. She won the 2010 Big 12 400-meter title, breaking the conference meet record by over a second. The junior from Euclid, Ohio, also anchored Texas A&M’s 4x400-meter relay to a Big 12 Conference title, and she finished second in the 200 meters with a time of 23.18. That time ranks fifth in the NCAA headed into the Indoor Championships.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Queen Harrison – Virginia Tech

Harrison is the 2010 ACC Champion in the 60-meter hurdles and the 400 meters. Her season-best time in the short hurdles of 7.94 is over a tenth of a second faster than any other competitor’s best time this season. In addition, Harrison ranks ninth among collegians over the 400-meter distance. She is a senior from Richmond, Va.



WEST REGION – Katie Follett – Washington

Follett heads into the NCAA Indoor Championships with the second-fastest time in the mile with a school-record time of 4:34.98. She finished third in the mile at the MPSF Championships and also recorded the second-fastest time in school history over 800 meters in her only race of the season at that distance. Follett is a senior from

Fort Collins, Colo.



Women’s Region Field Athletes of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Kylie Hutson – Indiana State

Hutson enters the NCAA Indoor Championships after an undefeated season that has her sitting at the top of the ranks in the pole vault. She won the 2010 MVC indoor title in the event with a season-best clearance of 14-8¼ (4.48m). Hutson is a senior from Terre Haute, Ind.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Chelsea Carrier – West Virginia

Carrier, a junior from Buckhannon, W. Va., ranks fifth in the NCAA in the pentathlon headed into the Indoor Championships, with a season-best score of 4,136 points. Earlier this season, she won the Big East Championship in the pentathlon and finished seventh in the long jump. Her pentathlon best is a new school record.



MIDWEST REGION – Jeneva McCall – Southern Illinois

McCall achieved automatic qualifying marks for the NCAA Indoor Championships in both the shot put and the weight throw. Her season-best marks of 55-11¾ (17.06m) in the shot put and 70-¼ (21.34m) in the weight throw currently rank her sixth and third in those events, respectively. A sophomore from Dolton, Ill., McCall won conference titles in both events at the 2010 MVC Championships.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Blessing Okagbare - UTEP

Okagbare earned the 2010 Conference USA titles in both the long jump and the triple jump this year. Her best long jump mark of 21-11¾ (6.70m) ranks first in the NCAA this year and eighth all-time for a collegian. She also has a best of 44-5½ (13.55m) in the triple jump, which ranks fifth among collegians this year in that event.



NORTHEAST REGION – Victoria Flowers - Connecticut

A sophomore, Flowers won the New Balance Intercollegiate Invitational in the weight throw in a new personal best of 66-6½ (20.28m), ranking her twelfth in the NCAA in the event and first in the Northeast Region. She also won this year’s New England and ECAC titles in the weight throw. Flowers is from Providence, R.I.



SOUTH REGION – Kim Williams – Florida State

Williams currently leads the nation in the triple jump with a best jump of 46-8½ (14.23m), over a foot better than any other mark recorded this season, and the second best mark ever recorded by a collegian indoors. She won the ACC title in the event, breaking the FSU and ACC records in the process. She also finished second at the ACC Indoor Championships in the long jump, and she has a best jump of 21-4¼ (6.51m) in the event. Williams is a junior from Kingston, Jamaica.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Tina Sutej – Arkansas

Sutej is the 2010 SEC Indoor Champion in the pole vault with a season-best clearance of 14-7½ (4.46m). That mark is the second-best mark recorded in the event during the 2010 NCAA indoor season and is an Arkansas school record. A sophomore from Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sutej is also the Slovenian national record holder in the event.



SOUTHEAST REGION – April Sinkler – Clemson

Sinkler won ACC titles in the high jump and the long jump and scored a total of 25 points for the Clemson Tigers. She broke school records in both events and nationally ranks in the top five in each event with personal bests of 6-¾ (1.85m) in the high jump and 21-6 (6.55m) in the long jump. She also has an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the triple jump with a season-best of 43-7¼ (13.29m). Sinkler is a sophomore from Stafford, Va.



WEST REGION – Brianne Theisen – Oregon

Theisen has the second-best mark recorded this season in the heptathlon with a best point total of 4,198 points. She has also cleared the NCAA provisional standard in the high jump with a best of 5-10¼ (1.79m). Theisen finished fourth in the high jump and sixth in the shot put at the 2010 MPSF Indoor Championships. She is a junior from Humboldt, Saskatchewan.



Men’s Region Head Coach of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Robert Gary – Ohio State

The Buckeyes finished second at the 2010 Big Ten Indoor Championship by scoring points in fifteen events. The second place finish is school’s highest finish indoors in Gary’s four years as head coach. The Buckeyes have five entries into the NCAA Indoor Championships, including 3:58.82 miler Jeff See.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Fred Samara – Princeton

Samara led the Tigers to victory at the Ivy League’s Indoor Heptagonals by winning 11 events en route to a total score of 181 points, the second-highest total in Heps history. The Tigers went undefeated in team-scored events this season, including the top spot at Penn State’s Sykes-Sabock Cup. In his 32nd year leading the Princeton program, Samara had three individuals and one relay earn provisional qualifying marks.



MIDWEST REGION – Martin Smith – Oklahoma

In his fifth year at the helm of the Sooners, Smith coached Oklahoma to the Big 12 Indoor title by winning three individual titles and scoring in every event on the track. The Sooners are currently ranked number one in the Midwest region and number 15 nationally. The Sooners have six athletes in the nation's top ten in their respective events and qualified seven for the NCAA Indoor Championships.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Eric Hines – Northern Arizona

Hines’ Lumberjacks won the Big Sky Conference title this season. NAU’s David McNeill is this season’s collegiate leader in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Hines, in his third year at Northern Arizona, has a squad that will enter the NCAA Indoor Championships as the number 19 team in the country.



NORTHEAST REGION – Roberto Vives – Albany

Vives is at the helm of a group that was named as the America East Coaching Staff of the Year after the Great Danes won their fifth-straight indoor title. At the conference meet, Vives-coached sprinters and hurdlers scored 68 points and included the Most Outstanding Rookie. In this his 22nd year leading Albany, Vives had 13 athletes earn IC4A qualifying marks.



SOUTH REGION – Mike Holloway - Florida

In his sixth season leading the Gators, Holloway led the nation’s top-ranked men’s team to a second-place finish at the SEC Indoor Championships. His athletes earned six automatic-qualifying marks, and three Gators lead the nation in their respective events (60m, 200m, and triple jump). Florida will look to challenge for a national title with 12 entries in eight events at the upcoming NCAA Indoor Championships.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Bucknam - Arkansas

Second-year head coach Bucknam led Arkansas to the 2010 SEC Indoor title with 123 points. Bucknam’s athletes won five event titles (mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, distance medley relay and long jump) and earned two runner-up finishes (3,000 meters and long jump). In 2010, Bucknam’s athletes picked up four NCAA auto-qualifying and 26 NCAA provisional-qualifying marks.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Dennis Craddock – North Carolina

In his 25th year at UNC, Craddock’s Tar Heels finished a surprising second at the 2010 ACC Indoor Championship. The team achieved two automatic qualifying marks and sixteen provisional qualifying marks during the 2010 indoor season.



WEST REGION – Edrick Floreal - Stanford

Floreal led Stanford to a second-place finish at the 2010 MPSF Indoor Championships where the Cardinal scored 95.5 points. Over the course of the indoor season, the Cardinal achieved 16 provisional-qualifying marks and two automatic-qualifying marks, and they enter this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships ranked 20th in the nation.



Men’s Region Assistant Coach of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Ed Beathea – Ohio State

Beathea mentored three Big Ten champions in the sprints to help lead Ohio State to a second-place team finish. Ohio State won the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 4x400 meters under Beathea’s coaching. Beathea is in his fourth year as the associate head coach for the Buckeyes’ men’s program.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Al Cantello - Navy

After 46 years at Navy, Cantello continues to bring out the best in his athletes. Cantello-coached athletes won Patriot League titles in the 1,000 meters, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, and distance medley relay to help Navy finish third in the league. In events between the 1,000 meters and 5,000 meters, Cantello’s squad produced 24 IC4A qualifiers.



MIDWEST REGION – Paul Thornton – Minnesota

Thornton, who coaches sprints, jumps, and multi-events for Minnesota, helped lead the Golden Gophers to the 2010 indoor Big Ten team title. Under Thornton’s guidance, Gopher athletes won Big Ten titles in the heptathlon and in the 600 meters. Thornton also helped the Gophers pick up valuable team points in the long jump and triple jump.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Rock Light – Texas Tech

In his fifth year at Tech, Light coached the Big 12 High Point performer, Bryce Lamb, a freshman, to victory in the long jump and triple jump in school and conference record-setting fashion. In addition to Lamb’s two top-five national championship seeds, teammate Darrell Roddick is ranked sixth nationally in the triple jump.



NORTHEAST REGION – Matt Jones – Albany

Jones is a member of the America East Conference Coaching Staff of the Year that led UAlbany to the 2010 America East indoor team title. He oversees UAlbany’s middle distance runners, and his athletes scored 55 points at the conference championships, including event wins in the 1,000 meters and distance medley relay. Jones is in his third season as an assistant coach at UAlbany.



SOUTH REGION – Ken Harnden – Florida State

Sprints coach Ken Harnden played an integral role in Florida State’s 2010 ACC Indoor team championship. The Seminoles won the 60 meters and swept first through third place in the 200 meters to score valuable team points. Florida State’s sprinting crew is led by Charles Clark, who is tied for the fastest time nationally in the 200 meters.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Derek Yush – LSU

Yush-coached student-athletes finished first and third in the weight throw and fifth in the shot put at the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships. He also coached Walter Henning to a new SEC record of 78’-1” (23.80m) in the weight throw, which is also the national leader in the event by over three feet.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Greg Jack – Virginia Tech

Jack coached all five of Virginia Tech’s throwers to NCAA provisional or automatic qualifying marks during the 2010 indoor season. The Hokie men’s throwers totaled 33 points to lead Virginia Tech to a third-place team finish at the ACC Indoor Championships. Three throwers will represent the Hokies at this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships.



WEST REGION – David Dumble – Arizona State

Dumble, ASU’s throws coach, will have three entries in the throws at this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships, led by Ryan Whiting. Whiting is the national leader in the shot put by over six feet, with a best throw of 70’-7.25” (21.52m). Dumble is in his ninth year as an assistant coach at ASU.



Women’s Region Head Coach of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Karen Dennis – Ohio State

Dennis led Ohio State to a second-place finish at the Big Ten indoor championships, their best finish in the five years Dennis has coached the Buckeyes, and a huge improvement from their eighth-place finish one year ago. This season, OSU achieved eight NCAA provisional-qualifying marks.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Beth Alford-Sullivan – Penn State

Beginning her second decade with the Nittany Lions, Alford-Sullivan has the Penn State women currently ranked eighth in the nation. She had 15 individuals and two relays achieve NCAA provisional- or automatic-qualifying marks during the season, and she was named the 2010 Indoor Big Ten Women’s Coach of the Year.



MIDWEST REGION – Gary Pepin – Nebraska

The Lady Huskers finished third at the Big 12 Indoor Championships and had three Big 12 individual champions, including Pepin-coached athletes in the high jump and triple jump. The Husker women have produced three automatic- and 12 provisional-qualifying performances this season, with six of those performances ranking in the top 15 nationally. Pepin is in his 27th year as head coach at Nebraska.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Bob Kitchens – UTEP

In his 20th year at UTEP, Kitchens earned his first Conference USA women’s team title this season, propelling his team to a number 22 national ranking headed into the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Miners are led by Blessing Okagbare, dual winner as this year’s Mountain Region Track Athlete of the Year and Mountain Region Field Athlete of the Year.



NORTHEAST REGION – Bill Morgan - Connecticut

In his sixth year leading the Huskies, Morgan’s team finished third at the Big East Conference Championship and first at the New England Championship. Heading into the NCAA Indoor Championships, the 2010 indoor season has already produced ten conference champions and eight school records for the Huskies.



SOUTH REGION – Mike Holloway - Florida

In his third year leading the program, Holloway finally earned his first SEC team title on the women’s side. Florida won five individual titles, and two Gators shared the conference’s High-Point Award. Among their five automatic qualifiers, Florida has two athletes leading the nation in their respective events and two on The Bowerman Watch List.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Pat Henry – Texas A&M

Led by XX year head coach Henry, the Texas A&M women won their fourth Big 12 Indoor title at the 2010 Big 12 Indoor Championships. The team enters the NCAA Indoor Championships ranked second in the country, and eleven women will represent the Aggies as they compete for the team championship.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Lawrence Johnson - Clemson

In his inaugural year as head coach, Johnson’s team had eight All-ACC Performances en route to winning their first ACC Championship since 1992. April Sinkler was named ACC Field Athlete of the meet for winning the long jump and high jump, and she is among Clemson’s ten entries at this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships.



WEST REGION – Vin Lananna – Oregon

Headed into the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships, Lananna has the Oregon Ducks poised to make a run at the team title. Ranked number one in the country for a majority of the indoor season, Oregon will be represented by 16 entries at this weekend’s championships, including senior Nicole Blood in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters, junior Brianne Theisen in the heptathlon, and the nation’s top-ranked distance medley relay. Lananna is in his fifth season as director of the Oregon program.



Women’s Region Assistant Coach of the Year



GREAT LAKES REGION – Nate Davis – Wisconsin

Davis coaches the Badgers jumpers and multi-event athletes. His athletes scored a combined 53 points at the 2010 Big Ten Indoor Championships, including Big Ten Championship Chavon Robinson (triple jump) and Dorcas Akinniyi (pentathlon). All three of Wisconsin’s entries in the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships are athletes coached by Davis.



MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Chris Johnson – Penn State

In his sixth year at PSU, sprints coach Johnson had seven individuals and one relay earn provisional- or automatic-qualifying marks, including Big Ten Athlete of the Year Shavon Greaves. The Nittany Lions won the 2010 Big Ten Indoor Championships and are ranked eighth nationally. Five of Penn State’s seven entries at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships are in events coached by Johnson.



MIDWEST REGION – John Smith – Southern Illinois

Smith’s throwers helped propel the Salukis to a second-place team finish at the MVC Indoor Championships, thanks to 42 points scored in the weight throw and shot put. In their coach’s fifth year, Smith’s throwers have earned one automatic and three provisional marks in the weight throw as well as one automatic and one provisional mark in the shot put.



MOUNTAIN REGION – Kebba Tolbert – UTEP

Tolbert coaches the jumps, sprints, and multi-events for UTEP. His athletes scored 45.5 points to lead UTEP to its first women’s Conference USA Indoor Championship. Sprinter/jumper Blessing Okagbare is among Tolbert’s charges. She will compete in the 60 meters and the long jump at this weekend’s championship and holds the top entering mark in both events.



NORTHEAST REGION – Gavin O’Neal - Columbia

In his fourth year at Columbia, O’Neal assisted in leading the women's team to a second place finish at the Ivy League Championships. His sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers brought home four individual titles as well as the meet's award for the Most Outstanding Performer. O’Neal has one has one athlete with an NCAA qualifying mark.



SOUTH REGION – Todd Morgan - Florida

Morgan had multiple athletes score in the mile, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters to help Florida win the SEC Indoor Championships. In his fourth year at Florida, Morgan has helped propel the Gators to a fourth-place national ranking by coaching nationally-ranked athletes in the 800 meters, mile, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters, including the nation’s top-ranked athlete in the mile.



SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Vince Anderson – Texas A&M

Texas A&M sprinters and hurdlers accounted for 103 points of the 130.5 the team scored in winning a fourth consecutive Big 12 title. Within the event coached by Anderson, wins were attained in the 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 60-meter hurdles, and 4x400-meter relay. In 2010, Anderson has coached student-athletes to five NCAA automatic-qualifying and nine provisional-qualifying marks.



SOUTHEAST REGION – Mario Wilson - Clemson

Wilson coached three ACC indoor champions and four All-ACC performers en route to assisting Clemson in earning its first ACC title in 18 years. Pentathlete Liane Weber is among the athletes who have shined under Wilson’s tutelage, as she achieved an automatic-qualifying and ACC-record score of 4,262 points in the event.



WEST REGION – Sheldon Blockberger – Arizona

The jumps and multi-events coach at Arizona, Blockberger coaches the top-ranked and third-ranked high jumpers headed into the NCAA Indoor Championships. Blockberger-coached athletes scored five top-eight finishes to held Arizona achieve a third-place finish overall at the MPSF Indoor Championships. Included among these athletes were MPSF event winners in the high jump and pentathlon.





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Tom Lewis

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

Communications Manager

1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750

New Orleans, LA 70163

(O) 504-599-8904 (F) 504-599-8909

Email: tom@ustfccca.org