Division I Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year Announced

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Division I Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year Announced
November 19, 2013

NEW ORLEANS – Region Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2013 NCAA Division I cross country season were announced Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as voted on by the Division’s coaches.

More information on each of the winners can be found below.

QUICK LINKS
MEN: Region Athletes of the Year | Region Coaches of the Year
WOMEN: Region Athletes of the Year | Region Coaches of the Year

Award History

The NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships will be contested November 23 in Terre Haute, Ind., hosted by Indiana State on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center. The meet will be broadcast live online at NCAA.com.

MEN’S REGION ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Great Lakes
John Mascari, Indiana State

Mascari, a sophomore from Terre Haute, Ind., claimed the Great Lakes Region title with a 30:05 time over the 10K course at Wisconsin, winning by two seconds over Purdue’s Matt McClintock. With the win, he became the first runner in program history to win the region. The win was his fourth of the season, including a title at the MVC Championships.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Mohammed Ahmed, Wisconsin
2011 Callum Hawkins, Butler
2010 Eric Finan, Cincinnati
2009 Jeff See, Ohio State
2008 Patrick Smyth, Notre Dame


Mid-Atlantic
Patrick Tiernan, Villanova

Tiernan, a freshman from Toowoomba, Australia, continued a strong 2013 campaign with a Mid-Atlantic Region title, completing the 10K course at Lehigh in 29:36.90. His time was just over six seconds faster than runner-up teammate Sam McEntee, leading the Wildcats to the team title and an NCAA Championships berth. The individual crown came on the heels of a Big East title and is his third of the season.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Travis Mahoney, Temple
2011 Donn Cabral, Princeton
2010 Ayalew Taye, Georgetown
2009 Andrew Bumbalough, Georgetwon
2008 Andrew Bumbalough, Georgetown


Midwest
Chris O’Hare, Tulsa

O’Hare, a senior from Edinburgh, Scotland, defended his Midwest Region title with a two-second win over Trent Lusignan of South Dakota State. The two-time defending region champ completed the course in 30:27.94 to lead his Golden Hurricane to a runner-up team finish and an auto NCAA bid. The win was his first of the season, but he also recorded a runner-up finish at the Conference-USA meet and a third-place showing at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Chris O’Hare, Tulsa
2011 Hassan Mead, Minnesota
2010 Colby Lowe, Oklahoma State
2009 Hassan Mead, Minnesota
2008 Hassan Mead, Minnesota


Mountain
Kennedy Kithuka, Texas Tech

Defending national champion Kithuka claimed his second consecutive Mountain Region title in dominant fashion with a 29:23.60 performance over the 10K course at Weber State. The senior from Thika, Kenya, was 16 seconds clear of the next-closest finisher Anthony Rotich of UTEP — the second-best returner from the 2012 NCAA Championships (fourth), behind Kithuka himself. The win was his seventh of the season, including Big 12 and Pre-Nationals wins.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Kennedy Kithuka, Texas Tech
2011 Miles Batty, BYU
2010 David McNeill, Northern Arizona
2009 David McNeill, Northern Arizona
2008 David McNeill, Northern Arizona


Northeast
Maksim Korolev, Harvard

Korolev, a senior from Harrisonville, Mo., was the first to cross the line at the Northeast Regional, completing the 10K course at the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park in 30:11.6. He finished nearly seven seconds faster than runner-up Matt Gillespie of Iona. The win was his second of the season, along with an Ivy League title, and he finished runner-up in a very deep Wisconsin adidas Invitational field.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Mitch Goose, Iona
2011 Leonard Korir, Iona
2010 Leonard Korir, Iona
2009 Ryan Sheridan, Iona
2008 Mohamed Khadraoui, Iona


South
Mark Parrish, Florida

Parrish, a senior from Tampa, Fla., claimed the South Region title with a 29:44.24 performance in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Parrish crossed the line five seconds prior to the runner-up teammate Jimmy Clark, combining to earn a runner-up team finish and an automatic NCAA bid for the Gators. The win was his second of the season in addition to a runner-up showing at the Mountain Dew Gator Cross Country Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Jakub Zivec, Florida State
2011 David Forrester, Florida State
2010 Ciaran O’Lionaird, Florida State
2009 Felix Kibioywo, Auburn
2008 Felix Kiboiywo, Auburn


South Central
Kemoy Campbell, Arkansas

Campbell, a senior from Manchester, Jamaica, crossed the line at the South Central Region side-by-side with teammate Stanley Kebenei, who technically won by .03 of a second, to pace Arkansas to the team title. While Kebenei may have notched the regional win, it was Campbell who claimed titles at both the SEC Championships and the Wisconsin adidas Invitational, arguably the deepest meet of the year to this point. He also finished runner-up to defending national champion Kennedy Kithuka of Texas Tech at the Arkansas Chile Pepper Festival.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Henry Lelei, Texas A&M
2011 Henry Lelei, Texas A&M
2010 Festus Kigen, TCU
2009 Dorian Ulrey, Arkansas
2008 Shadrack Songok, Texas A&M


Southeast
Paul Chelimo, UNC Greensboro

Chelimo, a senior from Chebiemit, Kenya, claimed the individual Southeast title from defending champion Soufiane Bouchikhi of Eastern Kentucky and defeated runner-up Andrew Colley of NC State by just over a second. His winning time of 28:37.21 was more than six seconds clear of Bouchikhi. He has won all three of his races so far this season, including Southern Conference and Pre-National (white race) titles.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Soufiane Bouchikhi, Eastern Kentucky
2011 Ryan Hill, NC State
2010 Sam Chelanga, Liberty
2009 Sam Chelanga, Liberty
2008 Sam Chelanga, Liberty


West
Edward Cheserek, Oregon

Cheserek, a freshman from Newark, N.J., continued a stellar debut campaign with a West Region title, navigating the 10K course at Sacramento State in 29:34.33. He crossed the line nearly eight seconds clear runner-up Jim Rosa of Stanford to lead the Ducks to a runner-up team finish and an auto NCAA bid. In addition to his region title, Cheserek won the Pac-12 crown and finished fourth at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Lawi Lalang, Arizona
2011 Lawi Lalang, Arizona
2010 Trevor Dunbar, Portland
2009 Chris Derrick, Stanford
2008 Galen Rupp, Oregon


WOMEN’S REGION ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Great Lakes
Juli Accurso, Ohio

Accurso, a senior from Casstown, Ohio, defended her Great Lakes Region crown with a win over Big Ten champion Erin Finn of Michigan. In completing the 6K course at Wisconsin in 20:00, the two-time champion defeated Finn by nine seconds to claim the crown. In addition to the region title, Accurso claimed the Mid-American Conference title for the third year in a row.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Juli Accurso, Ohio
2011 Danielle Tauro, Michigan
2010 Emily MacLeod, Michigan State
2009 Emily MacLeod, Michigan State
2008 Nicole Bush, Michigan State


Mid-Atlantic
Emily Lipari, Villanova

Lipari, a senior from Greenvale, N.Y., defeated defending champion — and now-teammate — Nicky Akande by .05 seconds to claim the Mid-Atlantic Region title. She completed the 6K course at Lehigh in 19:52.65, leading the Wildcats to an upset of No. 4 Georgetown for the team title, 31-35. This was her second win of the year, and she finished runner-up at the Big East Championships. She also posted top-10 showings at both the Paul Short Run and the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Nicky Akande, Villanova
2011 Sheila Reid, Villanova
2010 Sheila Reid, Villanova
2009 Sheila Reid, Villanova
2008 Francis Koons, Villanova


Midwest
Crystal Nelson, Iowa State

Nelson, a sophomore from Winchester, Va., claimed the Midwest Region title in 20:12.35 to lead Iowa State to the team title. Her 6K time on her home course in Ames, Iowa, was more than eight seconds faster than runner-up Molly Kayfes of Minnesota. The region title is the latest accomplishment in season that includes a runner-up showing at the Big 12 Championships, a third-place finish at Roy Griak and a 10th place finish at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Betsy Saina, Iowa State
2011 Aliphine Tuliamuk, Wichita State
2010 Stephanie Price, Minnesota
2009 Angela Bizzarri, Illinois
2008 Racheal Marchand, Iowa


Mountain
Sammy Silva, New Mexico

Silva, a junior from La Mesa, Calif., was victorious in the individual race at the Mountain Region, completing the 6K course at Weber State in 20:29.3. She crossed the line just under two seconds faster than runner-up Shalaya Kipp of Colorado, a 2012 Olympian in the steeplechase. Silva also finished runner-up at the Mountain West Championships and third at the Notre Dame Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Risper Kimaiyo, UTEP
2011 Risper Kimaiyo, UTEP
2010 Risper Kimaiyo, UTEP
2009 Jenny Barringer, Colorado
2008 Sally Kipyego, Texas Tech


Northeast
Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth

D’Agostino, a senior from Topsfield, Mass., claimed the Northeast title for the third year in a row, making her the only active Division I cross country student-athlete able to make that claim. In completing the 6K course at the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park in 19:48.3, she beat Providence’s Emily Sisson by 11 seconds. The win was her fifth of the season, including wins at the Ivy League meet and the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth
2011 Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth
2010 Lucy Van Dalen, Stony Brook
2009 Katie Hursey, Syracuse
2008 Danette Doetzel, Providence


South
Colleen Quigley, Florida State

Quigley, a junior from St. Louis, Mo., earned the individual title at the South Region Championships with a win in 19:58.55. She defeated in-state rival Cory McGee of Florida by two seconds in leading her FSU squad to the region crown. Prior to this meet, she was runner-up at both the ACC Championships and Notre Dame Invitational, and fifth at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Violah Lagat, Florida State
2011 Amanda Winslow, Florida State
2010 Kristie Krueger, Georgia
2009 Rebecca Lowe, Florida
2008 Hollie Knight, Auburn


South Central
Marielle Hall, Texas

Hall, a senior from Haddonfield, N.J., turned in one of the most dominant performances of the regional championships weekend with a 24 second win en route to defending her South Central title. She completed the 6K course at Baylor in 19:40.64 well ahead of runner-up Dominique Scott of Arkansas, the SEC champion. In addition, she won the Big 12 title and finished third at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Marielle Hall, Texas
2011 Silje Fjortoft, SMU
2010 Nicole Mericle, Rice
2009 Silje Fjortoft, SMU
2008 Nicole Mericle, Rice


Southeast
Emily Stites, William & Mary

Stites, a sophomore from Wyoming, Ohio, claimed the Southeast Region title with a 19:57.42 showing on the 6K course at Virginia. She finished 10 seconds ahead of Kentucky’s Cally Macumber, the defending region champion, in leading her William & Mary squad to a runner-up team finish. Prior to her region title, she finished runner-up at the CAA Championships and eighth at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Cally Macumber, Kentucky
2011 Kendra Schaaf, North Carolina
2010 Laura Hoer, NC State
2009 Catherine White, Virginia
2008 Tasmin Fanning, Virginia Tech


West
Emma Bates, Boise State

Bates, a junior from Elk River, Minn., continued an unbeaten season against collegians with a West Region title. In completing the 6K course at Sacramento State in 19:10.56, she defeated runner-up Shelby Houlihan of Arizona State by three seconds and Stanford’s Aisling Cuffe by just a second more. Her regional win comes in addition to a Mountain West title and a Pre-National Invitational crown, where she edged out Cuffe in the final meters of the race.

Year Recent Winners
2012 Jordan Hasay, Oregon
2011 Jordan Hasay, Oregon
2010 Jordan Hasay, Oregon
2009 Kendra Schaaf, Washington
2008 Alex Kosinski, Oregon


MEN’S COACHES
Great Lakes
Alex Gibby, Michigan

Gibby, in his fourth season at the helm of Michigan’s men’s program, guided his Wolverines to a narrow victory in the Great Lakes Region to snap Wisconsin’s 11-year winning streak in the region. Behind three top-10 finishers including third-place Mason Ferlic, Michigan scored 70 points to defeat Wisconsin’s 73, Notre Dame’s 74, and Indiana’s 75. The Wolverines were also runner-up at the Big Ten Championships.

Year Men
2012 Mick Byrne, Wisconsin
2011 Mick Byrne, Wisconsin
2010 Mick Byrne, Wisconsin
2009 John McNichols, Indiana State
2008 Mick Byrne, Wisconsin


Mid-Atlantic
Marcus O’Sullivan, Villanova

After lying low from major competitions for much of the season, O’Sullivan’s Wildcats pounced on the post-season competition with Big East and Mid-Atlantic Region titles. In his 16th season as the head coach of the men’s program, O’Sullivan guided freshman Patrick Tiernan to individual titles at both meets as the Wildcats won the Mid-Atlantic over Princton, 34-60, and the Big East over Providence, 36-49.

Year Men
2012 Patrick Henner, Georgetown
2011 Patrick Henner, Georgetown
2010 Steve Dolan, Princeton
2009 Patrick Henner, Georgetown
2008 Patrick Henner, Georgetown


Midwest
Dave Smith, Oklahoma State

In his eighth season at the helm of Oklahoma State’s men’s cross country program, Smith guided his Cowboys to the Midwest Region title over Tulsa, 45-57. Five OSU runners finished in a row between seventh and 11th, led by Tom Farrell in seventh, and the Cowboys were the only squad with seven runners in the top 40. The regional win came on the heels of a Big 12 title, and Smith’s Cowboys also notched an early-season win over current No. 1 Northern Arizona.

Year Men
2012 Steve Gulley, Tulsa
2011 Dave Smith, Oklahoma State
2010 Martin Smith, Oklahoma
2009 Dave Smith, Oklahoma State
2008 Dave Smith, Oklahoma State


Mountain
Eric Heins, Northern Arizona

Heins, in his seventh season with the Lumberjacks, guided Northern Arizona to the Mountain Region title as it upset former No. 1 Colorado for the win, 61-69. Third-place Futsum Zienasellassie led three NAU finishers in the top ten — more than any other team in the meet — with a fourth finishing in 11th. The region title added to a list of 2013 wins that included the Big Sky Conference meet and the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Men
2012 Eric Heins, Northern Arizona
2011 Ed Eyestone, BYU
2010 Joe Franklin, New Mexico
2009 Ed Eyestone, BYU
2008 Mark Wetmore, Colorado


Northeast
Chris Fox, Syracuse

In his ninth season in charge of the Syracuse program, Fox led his Orange to the Northeast Region title over a top-10 foe in Columbia, 57-78. Third-place Martin Hehir led six top-25 finishers for Syracuse, while no other team produced more than four. Fox’s squad also made quite the debut to the ACC, winning the conference title in its first year as a member over North Carolina, 64-84, behind seven top-25 finishers.

Year Men
2012 Ricardo Santos, Iona
2011 Chris Fox, Syracuse
2010 Chris Fox, Syracuse
2009 Chris Fox, Syracuse
2008 Ricardo Santos, Iona


South
Pat Cunniff, Georgia

Cunniff, in his second season at the head of the Georgia program, guided the Bulldogs to the tightest regional championship win of the weekend as his squad edged SEC rival Florida by just one point, 72-73, to claim the South Region. Fourth-place Lucas Baker led three top-10 finishers for the Bulldogs. The region win came after a third-place finish at the SEC Championships just five points behind runner-up Florida.

Year Men
2012 Bob Braman, Florida State
2011 Bob Braman, Florida State
2010 Joe Walker, Alabama
2009 Joe Walker, Alabama
2008 Joe Walker, Alabama


South Central
Chris Bucknam, Arkansas

In his sixth season at the helm of the Arkansas men’s cross country program, Bucknam and his Razorbacks squad edged out Texas for the South Central Region title, 34-37. Individual winner Stanley Kebenei and South Central Region Athlete of the Year Kemoy Campbell finished one-two to lead four top-10 finishers. The Razorbacks also claimed the SEC team title over Florida, 31-96, behind individual winner Campbell.

Year Men
2012 John Hayes, Texas
2011 John Hayes, Texas
2010 Chris Buchnam, Arkansas
2009 Chris Bucknam, Arkansas
2008 Dan Waters, Texas A&M


Southeast
Rick Erdmann, Eastern Kentucky

Erdmann, now in his 34th season leading the Eastern Kentucky program, guided his Colonels to a 58-96 victory over Virginia to earn Southeast Region team champion honors. Individual third-place finisher Soufiane Bouchikhi led the way as five EKU runners finished among the top 20 finishers with a sixth in 21st. In addition, Erdmann’s Colonels claimed the OVC Championships title.

Year Men
2012 Rick Erdmann, Eastern Kentucky
2011 Rollie Geiger, NC State
2010 Stephen Walsh, William and Mary
2009 Alex Gibby, William and Mary
2008 Alex Gibby, William and Mary


West
Chris Miltenberg, Stanford

In his second year at the helm of Stanford’s cross country program, Miltenberg led the Cardinal to the West Region title over higher-ranked Pac-12 rival Oregon, 53-64. Stanford was the only team at the meet with three top-10 individual finishers, led by runner-up Jim Rosa and third-place Erik Olson. Other notable performances by Miltenberg’s Cardinal included a third-place showing at the Pac-12 Championships and a fourth-place finish at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Men
2012 Rob Conner, Portland
2011 Mark Conover, Cal Poly
2010 Jason Dunn, Stanford
2009 Jason Dunn, Stanford
2008 Vin Lananna, Oregon


WOMEN’S COACHES
Great Lakes
Mike McGuire, Michigan

McGuire, in his 22nd season in charge on Michigan’s women’s program, led his Wolverines to an upset of a pair of top-10 teams to win at the Great Lakes Regional. With runner-up Erin Finn leading four finishers in the top 11, Michigan scored 48 points to Butler’s 67 and Michigan State’s 73. Finn also claimed the individual Big Ten title as McGuire’s Wolverines finished runner-up.

Year Women
2012 Mike McGuire, Michigan
2011 Mike McGuire, Michigan
2010 Walt Drenth, Michigan State
2009 Tim Connelly, Notre Dame
2008 Mike McGuire, Michigan


Mid-Atlantic
Gina Procaccio, Villanova

Procaccio, in her 14th season as the head coach of the women’s program at Villanova, guided her Wildcats to arguably the biggest upset of the regional championships weekend as they defeated No. 4 Georgetown, 31-35, for the Mid-Atlantic title. Winner Emily Lipari and runner-up Nicky Akande led four finishers in the top eight as the previously unranked Wildcats took the team title. Her squad finished fourth at the Big East Championships.

Year Women
2012 Beth Alford-Sullivan, Penn State
2011 Gina Procaccio, Villanova
2010 Gina Procaccio, Villanova
2009 Gina Procaccio, Villanova
2008 Sean Cleary, West Virginia


Midwest
Andrea Grove-McDonough, Iowa State

In her first season in Ames, Iowa., Grove-McDonough guided the Cyclones to a decisive Midwest Region title over Minnesota, 39-59. Her Iowa State squad was led by individual winner Crystal Nelson and all five scorers among the top 15 finishers. Two weeks prior, the Cyclones were decisive team victors at the Big 12 Championships, winning 35-104 over West Virginia, and they also finished fifth in a deep Wisconsin adidas Invitational field.

Year Women
2012 Corey Ihmels, Iowa State
2011 Corey Ihmels, Iowa State
2010 Corey Ihmels, Iowa State
2009 Gary Wilson, Minnesota
2008 Gary Wilson, Minnesota


Mountain
Mark Wetmore, Colorado

Wetmore, in his 19th season as head coach of the Colorado cross country program, led the Buffaloes to a dominant win over New Mexico for the Mountain Region title, 29-64. Individual runner-up Shalaya Kipp led four CU runners in the top six and all seven of Wetmore’s runners crossed the line among the top 15 finishers. Two weeks prior, Colorado came within six points of upsetting former No. 1 Arizona at the Pac-12 Championships as the only team at the meet with four top-15 individual finishers.

Year Women
2012 Paul Pilkington, Weber State
2011 Joe Franklin, New Mexico
2010 Joe Franklin, New Mexico
2009 Mark Wetmore, Colorado
2008 Jon Murray, Texas Tech


Northeast
Ray Treacy, Providence

In his 30th season in charge of Providence’s program, Treacy’s Friars squad earned a decisive Northeast Region title over Dartmouth, 44-84. Individual runner-up Emily Sisson and third-place Sarah Collins led three top-10 finishers as the Friars were the only squad in the meet with all five scorers finishing in the top 20. Providence’s season also includes a Big East team title and a third-place showing at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Women
2012 Andrea Grove-McDonough, Connecticut
2011 Chris Fox, Syracuse
2010 Andy Ronan, Stony Brook
2009 Chris Fox, Syracuse
2008 Ray Tracey, Providence


South
Karen Harvey, Florida State

Harvey, in her seventh season guiding the Florida State women’s program, led her squad to a comfortable 35-116 victory over Vanderbilt to earn the South Region team title. Individual winner Colleen Quigley led the way for FSU, which had three other runners finish in the top-10. Harvey’s Florida State squad was the victor at the ACC Championships, won the Notre Dame Invitational team title and finished runner-up at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Women
2012 Karen Harvey, Florida State
2011 Steve Keith, Vanderbilt
2010 Karen Harvey, Florida State
2009 Todd Morgan, Florida
2008 Karen Harvey, Florida State


South Central
Lance Harter, Arkansas

In his 24th year in charge of the Arkansas women’s program, Harter guided the Razorbacks to a decisive win in the South Central Region, 33-116 over SMU and Texas A&M. Individual runner-up Dominique Scott and third-place Grace Heymsfield were among the squad’s four top-10 finishers and seven top-20 finishers. Harter’s Razorbacks also claimed the SEC title and finished runner-up to former No. 1 Arizona at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational.

Year Women
2012 Lance Harter, Arkansas
2011 Lance Harter, Arkansas
2010 Steve Sisson, Texas
2009 Cathy Casey, SMU
2008 Lance Harter, Arkansas


Southeast
Todd Morgan, Virginia

Morgan, in his second year as head coach of Virginia’s women’s program, led the Cavaliers to the Southeast Region team title over William & Mary, 57-69. Six of his runners finished among the top 25 finishers, including third-place Barbara Strehler and ninth-place Maria Hauger. Virginia also finished runner-up at the ACC Championships and fourth at the Pre-National Invitational.

Year Women
2012 Kevin Jermyn, Duke
2011 Jason Vigilante, Virginia
2010 Jason Vigilante, Virginia
2009 Kevin Jermyn, Duke
2008 Jason Vigilante, Virginia


West
James Li, Arizona

Now in his 12th season in charge of the Arizona program, Li guided the Wildcat women to the program’s first No. 1 national rank since USTFCCCA records began in 1995 and a team title in the West Region, one of the deepest regions in the nation. Behind eighth-place Elvin Kibet and four of the top 12 finishers, Arizona defeated Pac-12 foe Stanford for the team title, 84-94. Li and the Wildcats also notched significant team victories at the Wisconsin adidas Invitational and the Pac-12 Championships.

Year Women
2012 Robert Johnson, Oregon
2011 Greg Metcalf, Washington
2010 Greg Metcalf, Washington
2009 Greg Metcalf, Washington
2008 Greg Metcalf, Washington







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