Division I Indoor Track & Field Region Award Winners Announced

March 4, 2013

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the organization’s region athletes and coaches of the year for the 2013 NCAA Division I indoor track & field season on Monday. Many of the athletes and coaches will be on hand for the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships set for this coming weekend, March 8-9, in Fayetteville, Ark.

MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Maverick Darling – Wisconsin

A senior from Ovid, Mich., was the Big Ten Champion at 3000 meters in a meet-record time of 7:50.97. Also placed fifth at the Big Ten meet in the 5000 meters (13:47.67). He also ranks No. 8 and No. 6 in the 3k and 5k, respectively in the nation.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Casimir Loxsom – Penn State

Loxsom, a senior from New Haven, Conn., won the Big Ten title at 600 meters on an oversized track in an all-conditions, all-time American best time of 1:15.42. He also scored for Penn State on the third-placed 4×400 team at Big Tens. He clocked 1:46.98 over 800 meters this season to rank No. 3 among collegians, claimed the American collegiate 600 meter record with 1:15.79 on January 12, anchored Millrose Games-winning 4×800.

MIDWEST REGION – Chris O’Hare – Tulsa

A senior from Edinburgh, Scotland, smashed the collegiate record in the mile at the Millrose Games with a time 3:52.98. O’Hare won his fourth-straight Conference USA mile title, his third-straight 800-meter crown in the league, and was a member of the winning DMR at the conference meet this season. He also holds a top-14 national time with a school-record at 800 meters of 1:48.28.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Kennedy Kithuka – Texas Tech

Kithuka, a senior from Thika, Kenya, won Big 12 titles with meet records in the 3000 and 5000 meters and anchored the Red Raiders to the DMR crown at the league meet. He leads the collegiate ranks in the 5000 meters after winning the Tyson Invitational 5k in a school record 13:26.65. The mark also places him tenth on the all-time collegiate performers list.

NORTHEAST REGION – Eric Jenkins – Northeastern

A junior from Portsmouth, N.H., broke two school records this season with a 3:58.11 clocking in the mile and 7:50.44 at 3000 meters. His time in the 3k is among the top five in the collegiate ranks this year.

SOUTH REGION – Eddie Lovett – Florida

Lovett, a junior from West Palm Beach, Fla., won the SEC title in the 60 meters in a championships- and school-record time of 7.54. For Lovett, it was his third-straight league crown, becoming the first three-time hurdles winner in the SEC since South Carolina’s Terrence Trammell. His collegiate-leading time also places him ninth on the all-time collegiate list.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Deon Lendore – Texas A&M

A sophomore from Arima, Trinidad and Tobago, Lendore captured the current world-leading time in the 400 meters with an SEC-preliminary run of 45.15. He went on to win the SEC crown in 45.23 with the times posted at the league meet ranking sixth and eighth all-time on the collegiate list. He came back at SECs to anchor the Aggies to the conference crown, splitting 44.50, in leading the charge to a final time of 3:04.18 which ranks No. 5 on the all-time collegiate list.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Ryan Hill – NC State

Hill, a redshirt senior from Hickory, N.C., won the ACC title in the mile this season and clocked a school-record 3:54.89 at the Millrose Games. The time ranks No. 4 in collegiate history. Hill was also the winner of the 3000 meters at the Husky Classic (7:49.20) and 5000 meters at the Hoosier Open (13:43.52).

WEST REGION – Lawi Lalang – Arizona

A junior from Eldoret, Kenya, is the collegiate leader in the 3000 meters, having clocked a school-record 7:42.79 in a winning effort at the Razorback Team Invitational. The impressive time ranks as the third-best in collegiate history and the fastest by a collegian since 2004. Lalang also hold the second-best time in the country in the mile with a school-record 3:54.46 from the Millrose Games.

MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Derek Drouin – Indiana

Drouin, a redshirt senior from Corunna, Ontario, twice broke the Big Ten meet record en route to securing his third-straight league title in the high jump. The Big Ten Field Athlete of the Year and of the Championships also placed third in the heptathlon in the conference with a score of 5,817 points. He’s cleared 7-7¼ (2.32m) in the high jump this season and ranks second nationally in the event. A clearance of 7-6½ (2.30m) at the Big Ten meet is all-time world-best for a heptathlon high jump.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Damon McLean – Princeton

A junior from Kingston, Jamaica, was the Ivy League long jump and triple jump champion and was named the Heps Championship Outstanding Field Performer. The ranks in the collegiate top-15 with a triple jump season best of 52-3¼ (15.93m).

MIDWEST REGION – Erik Kynard – Kansas State

Kynard, a senior from Toldeo, Ohio, is undefeated, 5-for-5, in the high jump this season, having cleared a collegiate-leading 7-7¾ (2.33m). He is the Big 12 Champion (2.31/7-7¼) for the third-straight year, doing so with his third jump of the season over 7-6 (2.29m).

MOUNTAIN REGION – Mason Finley – Wyoming

A junior from Buena Vista, Colorado, Finley holds the second-best throw among collegians this season in the shot put. He broke the Wyoming school record with a toss of 65-9¾ (20.06m) this season and had the Mountain West Conference’s Most Outstanding Overall Male Performance with a league title in the shot and runner-up showing with the weight.

NORTHEAST REGION – Montez Blair – Cornell

Blair, a junior from Sicklerville, N.J., sits among the collegiate top-five this year in the high jump with a season-best clear of 7-5¼ (2.27m). He is undefeated this year and captured the Ivy League title in the high jump.

SOUTH REGION – Marquis Dendy – Florida

A sophomore from Middletown, Del., captured his second-straight SEC long jump title with a championships- and school-record best of 27-¾ (8.25m). In the competition, he had three jumps at the 27-foot mark, and the performance moved him to No. 9 on the all-time collegiate list. He also finished third in the SEC meet in the triple jump and is fourth collegiately in the event this season.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Tarik Batchelor – Arkansas

Batchelor, a redshirt senior from Kingston, Jamaica, is the SEC triple jump champion. He won the league title with a collegiate-leading and personal-best leap of 54-2¾ (16.53m). Batchlor won three triple jump competitions this year.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexander Ziegler – Virginia Tech

A senior from Dischingen, Germany, won the ACC weight throw crown for third-straight year with a collegiate-leading and championships-record throw of 77-8¾ (23.69m). It was the longest collegiate throw since 2009 and places him eighth on the all-time collegiate performers list.

WEST REGION – Jeremy Taiwo – Washington

Taiwo, a senior from Renton, Wash., scored a collegiate-leading and then-world-leading 6,156 in the heptathlon at the Boise State Team Challenge, including a then-all-time world best clearance of 7-4½ (2.25m) in the heptathlon high jump. He is ranked as the third-best collegiate performer in the history of the heptathlon, and his score is fifth-best in collegiate history.

MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Ed Nuttycombe – Wisconsin

Nuttycombe’s Badgers, ranked fourth nationally, took the Big Ten indoor title for the 13th time under his 30-year leadership this season. He coached Japheth Cato to his third-straight Big Ten heptathlon title, and the Badgers are expected to have six qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.

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

Alford-Sullivan’s squad placed third at the Big Ten Championships, just three points from the team title, and had four event titles at the conference meet. The Nittany Lions are expected to have seven entries into the NCAA meet. Alford-Sullivan is in her 14th year as coach.

MIDWEST REGION – Randy Hasenbank – Loyola-Chicago

Hasenbank’s Ramblers won their first Horizon League title since 1980 and took nine event titles at the league meet. He is in his second year at the helm at Loyola-Chicago.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Eric Heins – Northern Arizona

Heins’ squad won the Big Sky title for the second-consecutive year as his distance crew swept events 800 and up at the league meet. NAU ranks 24th nationally and will likely have two entries into the NCAA meet. Heins is in his sixth year.

NORTHEAST REGION – Nathan Taylor – Cornell

Taylor, in his 14th year at Cornell, has a team that won its sixth Ivy League title in a ten-year period, taking the league crown by a single point. Cornell athletes Montez Blair and Stephen Mozia are ranked in the top five in their events nationally while Heps MVP Nick Wade has dipped under the 4:00 mark in the mile.

SOUTH REGION – Andy Eggerth – Kennesaw State

Eggerth’s male jumpers scored 59 points in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump combined to help the squad to its second-straight Atlantic Sun title. Eggerth, in his third year at the school, has a triple jumper that will likely enter the NCAA meet.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Bucknam – Arkansas

The Razorbacks, coached by Bucknam in his fifth year, won the team title at the SEC Championships with 152½ points. The win was Bucknan’s fourth SEC indoor title and 10th overall SEC team crown. Arkansas is currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA, and has been atop the USTFCCCA rankings since the preseason. Prior to last weekend, the team had 16 individuals and two relays ranked in the top 16 of the NCAA descending order list including five within the top three of their respective event.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Dave Cianelli – Virginia Tech

Cianelli in his 12th year at Virginia Tech, led the Hokie men to their second ACC indoor championship in the last two years, amassing 156 team points in the Championship to finish 17 points ahead of second-place Florida State. Seven of Cianeilli’s student-athletes earned gold medals at ACCs, and 13 earned All-ACC honors while he was named ACC Coach of the Year.

WEST REGION – Greg Kraft – Arizona State

Kraft in his 17th year at Arizona State, coached the Sun Devil men to their second consecutive MPSF Championships, becoming just the sixth team in MPSF history to accomplish a repeat. The men earned three event MPSF titles under Kraft. As the jumps coach, Kraft led Chris Benard to his second triple jump MPSF title and also a long jump runner-up finish, and he also coached Bryan McBride to runner-up high jump finish. He also currently has six qualified for NCAAs.

MEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Alan Turner – Notre Dame

The sprint and hurdle group, led by Turner in is third year, scored 45 points out of the teams 105½ points to help the Irish to a second-place finish at the Big East Championships. Pat Feeney won the 400 meters in a Big East Record time (46.12) as well as a Notre Dame school record as well as finishing third in the 60. In addition at the Big East meet, Brendon Doughterty finished third in the 400 running a personal best of 47.07; Chris Giesting finished second in the 500 and lowered his own school to 1:00.58; and, the 4×400 relay team finished second behind Pitt and ran to a new school record of 3:08.28.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – John Gondak – Penn State

Gondak, Penn State’s mid-distance coach in his seventh year, had two run under sub-4 this year and six runners go under 1:50 in the 800. Four of his athletes won Big Ten titles and Cas Loxsom clocked a collegiate-record 1:15.42 in the 600 meters this year.

MIDWEST REGION – Adrian Wheatley – Illinois

In his second year at the Illinois, Wheatley continues to coach the sprints, hurdles and relays with success. The Illini sprinters and hurdlers scored 54 points at the Big Ten Indoor Championships to help Illinois to a second-place team finish. His athletes won a pair of Big Ten titles in the 60 and 400. The Illini sprinters and hurdlers added a pair of runner-up titles in the 200 and 60 hurdles. Two of the Illini athletes are currently ranked in the top 10 with three others in the top 30 nationally.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Scott Steffan – Air Force

Steffan, coach of the pole vault and high jump at Air Force in his sixth year, helped lead the Falcons to a second-place Mountain West Conference finish. His pole vaulters and high jumpers combined for 40 points in the league meet which included taking five-of-eight scoring spots in the pole vault. Two of his vaulters are ranked in the top 12 nationally.

NORTHEAST REGION – James Garnham – Buffalo

At the MAC Conference Championship meet, Garnham’s throwers scored 28 points two moved into qualifying position for the NCAA Championship meet. Garnham is in his 12th year at Buffalo.

SOUTH REGION – Ken Harnden – Florida State

Harnden, FSU’s Director of Sprints, Hurdles & Relays in his 14th year, saw his charges contribute 55 points to the final day total in a runner-up finish at the ACC Championship. Seminole sprinters went 1-2-8 in the 60 meters, 1-2 in the 200 meters, 2-5-8 in the 400 and fourth in the 60 hurdles finals at the ACC meet. Freshman Marvin Bracy and junior transfer Dentarius Locke are ranked 1-2 nationally in the 60, and ACC 200 champ and 400 runner-up Stephen Newbold was the ACC Track Athlete of the meet.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Travis Geopfert – Arkansas

Geopfert’s athletes scored 57 points at the SEC Championships helping Arkansas win the SEC title. His athletes have seven marks ranked in the top 16 of the NCAA descending order list with Tarik Batchelor in the triple jump (first), Anthony May in the triple jump (No. 10) and high jump (12), Kevin Lazas in the heptathlon (third) and pole vault (15), Raymond Higgs in the long jump (third) and Jarrion Lawson in the long jump (eighth). Lazas’ 6,042 points in the heptathlon is an Arkansas school record. Geopfert is in his fourth year at the school.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Ben Thomas – Virginia Tech

Coach Thomas’s Distance crew scored a total of 67 points towards Virginia Tech’s total of 153 in winning the ACC Team Championship. His athletes won every distance event (800, 3000, 5000, DMR) except the mile run where his athlete finished second. In the 3000 meters, his athletes scored a total of 16 points to clinch the team title at the ACC Championships. Thomas is in his 12th year at the school.

WEST REGION – David Dumble – Arizona State

Dumble, in his 12th year at Arizona State, is the throws coach for Jordan Clarke, a Bowerman watch lister and the top-ranked shot putter in the nation. Clarke swept the MPSF shot put and weight throw titles, holds the nation’s top shot put mark by well over a foot, and is undefeated with the shot this season. Dumble’s throwers tallied 33 of ASU’s 125½ points en route to an MPSF title.

WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Jade Barber – Notre Dame

A sophomore from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, Jade Barber has been major factor within the Big East conference, earning accolades as the co-Big East Performer of the Meet this season for the team champion Fighting Irish. She broke the school record in the 60 hurdles at 8.23 to win the Big East title. Barber also placed 2nd in the 200 and led the winning 4×400 relay at the conference meet. Barber is currently ranked fourth in the 60 hurdles, and the relay is ranked 13th.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Emily Lipari – Villanova

A junior from Rosslyn, N.Y., Lipari anchored the winning DMR team at Armory Collegiate with a 4:34 split for the 1600 meters leg to give team a then-collegiate-leading 10:56.79. She ran three events at Big East Championships en route to Big East Track Athlete of the Meet honors, winning at 1000m (2:46.19) and as the anchor of the 4×800 relay (2:06 split with a 59 second last lap), and finishing seventh in mile in 4:46.68.

MIDWEST REGION – Betsy Saina – Iowa State

Saina, a redshirt senior from Eldoret, Kenya, became the first Iowa State track & field student-athlete to win three individual events at the conference meet dating back to 1908, claiming titles in the mile and at 3000 and 5000 meters. She was the Big 12 Championships’ top point scorer with 30. Saina currently leads collegians at 5000 meters with a 15:21.66 and has run the second-fastest all-conditions time over 5000 meters in the world in 2013. She is also ranked fourth at 3000 meters in 9:04.57.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Emma Coburn – Colorado

A senior from Crested Butte, Colo., Coburn made her only race of the season count, clocking a collegiate-leading 4:29.86 in the Millrose Games Wanamaker Mile for a fourth-place overall finish as the race’s top collegian. The time is the sixth-fastest in indoor collegiate history and makes her the fifth-fastest individual.

NORTHEAST REGION – Abbey D’Agostino – Dartmouth

A junior from Topsfield, Mass., D’Agostino currently leads all collegians at 3000 meters with a time of 8:55.41, and ran the second-fastest collegiate mile this season at the Millrose Games in 4:30.03, good for fifth in the world. She won in the mile and at 5000 meters during the Ivy League Indoor Championships in 15:47.02 to give her the meet record and sixth-fastest collegiate time this season.

SOUTH REGION – Aurieyall Scott – UCF

Scott, a junior from Greenbelt, Md., earned Conference USA Performance of the Meet honors with titles at 60 and 200 meters and in the 4×400 relay. Her championship winning and collegiate-leading time of 7.13 at 60 meters was the fifth-fastest time in collegiate history and makes her the fourth-best performer in the event all-time, while also ranking her as the seventh-fastest woman in the world in 2013. She defeated reigning Bowerman winning Kimberlyn Duncan in the Tyson Invitational 200 with a then-world leading 22.68. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the event both in the world and among collegians.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Regina George – Arkansas

A senior from Chicago, George claimed SEC titles at 400 meters and in the 4×400 relay to help her team to the SEC team crown. She ran a collegiate-leading 51.40 to win at 400 meters, making her the ninth-fastest collegiate performer all-time, the fourth-fastest in the world and the 2013 collegiate leader; while also anchoring the 4×400 to a world-leading 3:29.60. The relay time is the eighth-fastest in collegiate history, and makes Arkansas the fifth-fastest team all-time. She is also ranked eighth among collegians at 200 meters in 23.00.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Brianna Rollins – Clemson

Rollins, a senior from Miami, Fla., started off 2013 with a flash, breaking the all-time collegiate record in the 60 hurdles with a time of 7.78 in her season debut, bettering the previous record of 7.84 set in 2006 by USC’s Ginnie Powell. The performance is the fastest in the world in 2013, and she currently owns four of the world’s fastest times. Rollins is the only collegian to dip below 8.0 in the 60 hurdles, which she has done five times. She claimed the ACC crown in the 60 hurdles in a meet-record 7.90 and finished runner-up at 200 meters in 23.36. Rollins was named the Most Outstanding competitor at the Armory Collegiate Invitational with wins in the 60 hurdles and 200. She is ranked ninth among collegians at 200 meters (23.22).

WEST REGION – Phyllis Francis – Oregon

Francis, a junior from Queens, N.Y., ran the second-fastest 400 meters in the country (52.03) to win the MPSF meet and then anchored the winning 4×400 meter relay team to lead Oregon to the MPSF team title. Her 400 time broke both meet and facility records. She also took the 400 leg on the nation’s ninth-ranked distance medley relay team (11:02.18) at the Husky Classic.

WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Felisha Johnson – Indiana State

Johnson, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., is the nation’s leader in the weight throw and ranks second in the shot put after posting school records in both events this season. Johnson’s mark of 75-8 (23.06m) in the weight throw places her fifth all-time among collegiate performers and makes her just the sixth collegiate woman to surpass 75 feet. She ranks second among collegians in 2013 with a shot put distance of 17.80m, both Indiana State records. She won the MVC Indoor weight throw title for the first time in her career and finished second in the shot put. Johnson has won five of seven weight throw competitions this season and five of seven in shot put.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Thea LaFond – Maryland

LaFond, a sophomore from Silver Spring, Md., won the ACC crown in the indoor pentathlon with a score of 4,111, placing her sixth among collegians in 2013. She finished fourth in both the ACC triple jump with a mark of 42-4 (12.90m), good for 19th in DI, and the ACC high jump. She is currently ranked No. 26 in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10¾ (1.80m). LaFond scored a total of 18½ points at the ACC Championships.

MIDWEST REGION – Andrea Geubelle – Kansas

Geubelle, a senior from University Place, Wash., has won 12 of the last 14 triple jump competitions against collegians. She moved in to indoor collegiate top 10 triple jump list after breaking her own school record with a leap of 45-7¾ (13.91m) at the Tyson Invitational. She broke the indoor long jump school record with a collegiate-leading leap of 21-11½ (6.69m). Geubelle won the 2013 Big 12 Conference triple jump and finished runner-up in the long jump

MOUNTAIN REGION – Nickevea Wilson – UTEP

A freshman from Kingston, Jamaica, Wilson is ranked 16th in DI in the triple jump with a mark of 42-4¾ (12.92m) and is the third-best freshman in the event this season. She claimed the Conference USA title in the triple jump by more than a foot with her 42-4¾ leap.

NORTHEAST REGION – Victoria Flowers – Connecticut

Flowers, a redshirt senior from Providence, R.I., led the Huskies to a runner-up finish in the Big East Championship with a title in the weight throw (70-¼/21.34m) and a runner-up showing in the shot put (53-2¾/16.22m). A three-time Big East Athlete of the Week honoree, her weight mark is currently 10th in the DI rankings and her season-best shot put of 53-11 (16.43m) is currently No. 24 in DI. She is the top-ranked thrower in the Northeast Region in both the weight throw and shot put.

SOUTH REGION – Lucie Ondraschkova – Georgia

Ondraschkova, a senior from Opava, Czech Republic, took second at the SEC championships in the indoor pentathlon with a career-best score of 4,208, which ranks No. 2 among collegians this season and 24th in the world. She recorded four personal bests out of five components of the pentathlon. She also recorded a score of 4,072 that would place her just outside the current top 10 collegians.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Makeba Alcide – Arkansas

Alcide, a senior from Castries, S. Lucia, broke the collegiate record in the indoor pentathlon with a score of 4,569 points at SEC Championships, surpassing the score of 4,555 set by Oregon’s two-time indoor pentathlon champion Brianne Theisen and giving her two of the top seven collegiate scores of all time. During her historic SEC performance, which is the seventh-best score in the world this year, she recorded personal bests in four of the five components of the pentathlon. She also scored 4,464 at t he Razorback Invitational earlier this season, which stands seventh on the all-time list. Alcide is also ranked No. 4 in the open high jump at 6-2¼ (1.89m).

SOUTHEAST REGION – Karimah Shepherd – NC State

NC State senior Karimah Shepherd swept the horizontal jumps en route to winning two individual ACC Championships and earning ACC Championship Field Most Valuable Performer honors. Shepherd broke the program record in the women’s long jump with a 21-2 (6.45m) leap to win gold, and followed that with a first-place performance in the triple jump with a 43-½ (13.12m) measurement. Shepherd’s triple jump was not only a personal best, but also the second-longest in school history.

WEST REGION – Shanieka Thomas – San Diego State

Thomas, a junior from St. Andrew, Jamaica, was named the Women’s Outstanding Performer at the Mountain West Championships after winning the triple jump 43-8¾ (13.33m), taking second at the 400 meters (55.67) and anchoring the winning 4×400 relay in 3:42.11, the No. 2 all-time indoor mark at SDSU. Her efforts helped the Aztecs claim their first-ever MW indoor title and second overall (also 2003 outdoor). Thomas is the collegiate leader in the triple jump with a mark of 46-2½ (14.08m).

WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Bill Lawson – Kent State

Lawson, in his eighth season with the Golden Flashes, was named MAC Women’s Coach of the Year after Kent State turned in the most dominant performance in MAC Championships history. The Golden Flashes scored a meet-record 175 points, surpassing the previous mark by 30 points. They won eight events and nearly doubled their closest opponent, winning by a record 81 points. Lawson earned Coach of the Year accolades for the third time and has led Kent State to three of the past four MAC indoor titles. His team has 13 marks that rank in the top 50 nationally.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Joe Compagni – Monmouth

Under the direction of Compagni in his 18th season, Monmouth’s women won their second straight Northeast Conference (NEC) Indoor title, and have either won or finished runner-up at NECs Indoors the last ten years in a row. The Hawks tallied 162.5 points, establishing a new NEC record for points scored and winning by 62.5 points. In total, 20 different Monmouth women scored in 16 of 17 events.. His area of expertise comes in the distance events.

MIDWEST REGION – Tonja Buford-Bailey – Illinois

Buford-Bailey, in her fifth season with the Illini, led team to first Big Ten team title since 1996. Her areas of expertise, the sprints and hurdles, powered the Illini to Big Ten Championships in six events. She coached a pair of Big Ten Conference records this season: Ashley Spencer at 400 meters (52.07, No. 3 among collegians) and the 4×400 relay (3:33.30, No. 6 among collegiate teams). Two other student-athletes set school records this season under Buford-Bailey’s tutelage.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Joe Franklin – New Mexico

Franklin, in his fifth year with the Lobos, led his team to a runner-up finish at the Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships. Specializing in distance events, Franklin coached conference champions in the 800, mile and 5000; a runner-sup squad in the DMR and a third-place finish in at 3000 meters.

NORTHEAST REGION – Jason Saretsky – Harvard

Guided by Saretsky in his seventh year, the Harvard women won the Ivy League Heptagonal Championship with 117 points. The Crimson claimed conference championships in four events, set two Ivy League meet records, and earned 18 All-Ivy League Team honors. Throughout the season Saretsky’s women set seven school records and two all-time Ivy League records.

SOUTH REGION – Caryl Smith Gilbert – UCF

Gilbert, in her sixth season at the helm of the Golden Knights, guided her team to its fifth Conference USA Championship – between indoors and outdoors – since 2010, scoring a program-best 132.5 team points. Specializing in the springs and hurdles, she is the only coach to have two sprinters rank among this year’s collegiate top 10 at 60 meters in No. 1 Aurieyall Scott (7.13) and No. 3 Octavious Freeman (7.19). She helped coach Scott to a then-world’s fastest time and ninth-best time in collegiate history at 200 meters at 22.68.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Lance Harter – Arkansas

Harter, in his 23rd season with the Razorbacks, guided Arkansas to the 2013 SEC indoor team title, its fourth SEC indoor title in program history – all under Harter – and first since 2003. His Arkansas team has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the country this season and is currently ranked third with 12 entries ranked within the top 16 on the NCAA Division I Qualifying List. His area of expertise is coaching distance events.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Shawn Cobey – Clemson

Cobey, in his first year at the helm of the Tigers, guided the Clemson women to their fourth straight ACC Indoor Championship, becoming the first school since North Carolina 1998-2001 to accomplish four-peat. He coached five individual ACC Champions and the winning 4×400 relay, including ACC meet record-holders Brianna Rollins (60 hurdles) and Brittney Waller (weight throw). Rollins also became the collegiate record holder in the 60 hurdles at 7.78. Cobey, who specializes in coaching throwing events, currently has 11 athletes positioned within the top 16 of the Division I qualifying list and led the team to the No. 1 ranking nationally for first time in program history for three weeks.

WEST REGION – Shelia Burrell – San Diego State

Burrell, in her fourth season at San Diego State, has been named the Mountain West Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year after leading the Aztecs to their first-ever indoor title and second overall including a 2003 outdoor title. SDSU won the meet with 123 points, 20 more than runner-up New Mexico, despite not have a student-athlete compete in an event farther than 400 meters. Under Burrell’s direction, four athletes won five events, including Kristen Brown in the pole vault and 60 hurdles. The 4×400-meter relay team also won in 3:42.11, which was No. 2 all-time at SDSU.

WOMEN’S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
GREAT LAKES REGION – Phil Rickaby – Kent State

Kent State scored an impressive 56 points in the jumping events coached by Rickaby at the MAC Championships, helping set a meet scoring record. Rickaby, in his fifth season, was key in the Golden Flashes becoming the first team in MAC history to win the high jump long jump and triple jump, as freshman Dior Delophont won all three events. She ranks 10th nationally in the triple jump with a mark of 42-6¼ (12.96m) and 11th in the high jump with a mark of 5-11¼ (1.81m), and is in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships in both. The Flashes own a total of six top 50 marks in those three events.

MID-ATLANTIC REGION – Randy Bungard – Penn State

In his first season with the Nittany Lions guiding the sprints, hurdles and relays, Bungard guided his student-athletes to 29 points at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, including a runner-up finish by Mahogany Jones at 60 meters (7.42). He has helped mentor Jones to her ranking of 16th in the Division I at 200 meters (23.47). Jones led three Nittany Lion finalists in the finals at 200 meters, most of any team at the meet. Under his tutelage the 4×200 team set a school-record and collegiate-leading 1:37.25.

MIDWEST REGION – Wayne Pate – Kansas

Pate, in his sixth season with the Jayhawks as the jumps and women’s combined events coach, mentored three individual Big 12 Champions en route to a team crown for Kansas. Andrea Guebelle won the triple jump, and is also ranked No. 1 in the long jump and second in the triple jump. Francine Simpson won the long jump title and is ranked No. 2 in the NCAA in the long jump and Lindey Vollmer claimed the indoor pentathlon with the sixth-best collegiate score this season. In total, student-athletes under his guidance scored 53 points at the Big 12 Championships.

MOUNTAIN REGION – Juli Benson – Air Force

Benson, a fifth-year middle- and long-distance coach, guided Jen Bremser to an Academy record at 3000 meters, breaking a 23-year-old program mark and also standing as the second-fastest in Mountain West Championship meet history. Benson also mentored the DMR team to its second conference title.

NORTHEAST REGION – Andrea Grove-McDonough – Connecticut

A fifth-year middle- and long-distance coach, Grove-McDonough’s student-athletes scored 60 of the Huskies’ 109 points, propelling the team to runner-up finish at the Big East Championships. Her runners at 5000 meters swept top three positions with Shauna McNiff (16:09.95) winning the program’s first conference championship at the distance in a new facility record. Her DMR team won its first Big East Championship in facility record 11:06.99. The DMR ranks seventh nationally, while Lindsay Crevoiserat is 12th nationally at 5000 meters (15:58.47). Athletes McNiff at #25 in 5000m and Brigitte Mania in 800 at #32 are two of her event athletes.

SOUTH REGION – Karen Harvey – Florida State

Harvey’s distance runners combined for 46 of the team’s 100 points in a runner-up ACC Championship finish. Guided by Harvey, in her sixth season with the Seminoles, FSU’s DMR team won in a meet and conference record 10:57.41, which ranks No. 2 nationally, No. 12 all-time and broke the school record by 11 seconds. Amanda Winslow is in position to qualify for the NCAA meet in the mile (school-record 4:33.22) and 3000 (ACC meet record 9:08.13), and freshman Georgia Peel also ranks 15th in the mile…Her runners have three of top 18 mile and three of the top 24 3000m times nationally.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Chris Johnson – Arkansas

Johnson, in his first season at Arkansas with sprints, hurdles and relays, coached the Razorbacks to a pair of SEC titles at 400 meters from Regina George and in the 4×400-meter relay en route to a team SEC title. Under his tutelage, George is the collegiate leader at 400 meters with her time of 51.40. She has broken the school record three times in 2013 and is currently ranked No. 4 in the world in the event and ninth on the all-time collegiate list. The 4×400-meter relay turned in a school-record time of 3:29.60 at the SEC meet, which is the eighth-fastest time in collegiate history. Johnson has four runners and one relay in national top 16.

SOUTHEAST REGION – Tim Hall – Clemson

In his fifth year coaching sprints, hurdles and relays, Hall has helped guide the Clemson women to their fourth straight ACC Indoor Championship. He coached ACC Champions at 60, 200 and 400 meters; in the 60 hurdles; and 4×400 relay – in addition to five other All-ACC performers. Hall coached Brianna Rollins to a collegiate-record 7.78 in the 60 hurdles. Dezerea Bryant, the ACC Most Valuable Track Performer with individual titles at 60 and 200 meters for second straight season, and Marlena Wesh, who won her third straight ACC title in 400, were among the student-athletes Hall coached this season. The 4×400 relay won fourth straight ACC indoor title under his guidance.

WEST REGION – Maurica Powell – Oregon

Powell, a seventh-year middle- and long-distance coach, guided Jordan Hasay to a school record at 3000 meters in 8:57.46, which is the second-fastest time in the nation this season. Powell also mentored Hasay to the No. 5 mark at 5000 meters (15:46.30). She trained athletes currently ranked No. 6 and 10 at 800; 8, 9 and 13 in the mile; 2 and 12 in the 3000; and 5, 8 and 10 at 5000. Under her tutelage the Ducks also field the nation’s No. 3 DMR team (11:02.18). Oregon swept the 800, mile and 3000 to win the MPSF team title.




U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
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Contact: Kyle Terwillegar
Communications Assistant
kyle@ustfccca.org
(504) 599-8905





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Kyle Terwillegar

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

Communications Assistant

1100 Poydras St., Suite 1750

New Orleans, LA 70163

(O) 504-599-8905 (F) 504-599-8909

Email: kyle@ustfccca.org

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