Men's Awards

Ashland Pair Earns Regional Honors for Division II Men’s Indoor Track and Field 

NEW ORLEANS - Ashland strongmen Jud Logan and Bryan Vickers are among the 24 recipients of NCAA Division II Regional Athlete and Coach of the Year honors for the 2008 men’s indoor track and field season. 

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the regional honorees on the eve of the 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The national meet begins Friday and continues Saturday in Mankato, Minn. 

Vickers, the leading Division II performer in the shot put, is the Great Lakes Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year. Logan is the Great Lakes Region Men’s Coach of the Year largely on the strength of his work with the Ashland throwers. 

The 2008 regional honorees for Division II indoor track and field: 

East Region 

Men’s Track: Jarret Eaton, West Chester (Pa.) University

Eaton enters the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships with the nation’s fastest time in the 60-meter hurdles (7.84). He won the 55-meter hurdles at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet and placed fifth in the 55-meter dash. Eaton is a freshman from Roslyn, Pa. 

Men’s Field: Tyler Blatchley, West Virginia Wesleyan University

Blatchley qualified for the NCAA Championships in the shot put and is seeded eighth with a best of 56-10¼. He placed eighth at last year’s NCAA indoor meet in the shot put. Blatchley is a senior from Baltimore.  

Men’s Coach: John Papa, Slippery Rock University

Papa has won 15 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference titles in men’s and women’s track and cross country during his decorated tenure, but this year marked the first time that he won a PSAC men’s indoor championship. Two of his male athletes and three women qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

West Region 

Men’s Track: John Riak, Saint Martin’s University

Riak won the mile at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships and just missed qualifying for nationals with a 4:13.53 best. Riak is a junior from Tacoma, Wash. 

Men’s Field: Zeb Udell, Western Oregon University

Udell qualified for the NCAA Championships in the pole vault with a 16-2¾ best. He won the long jump at the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Indoor Championships and was also second in the pole vault and third in the 60 meters. Udell, a junior from Monmouth, Ore., placed fifth in the pole vault at last year’s NCAA outdoor meet. 

Men’s Coach: Mike Johnson, Western Oregon University

Johnson’s Wolves won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference indoor title with 178 points. Western Oregon will have the only GNAC male representatives at this week’s NCAA Indoor Championships. Johnson is in his fifth season as Western Oregon’s head track coach. 

Southeast Region 

Men’s Track: Daniel Kanyaruhuru, Queens University of Charlotte

Kanyaruhuru has the nation’s top Division II time in the 5,000 meters (13:57.42). He placed 11^th in the 3,000 meters at the USA Indoor Track Championships last month and finished fifth in the NCAA cross country meet last fall. He is a junior from Phoenix, Ariz. 

Men’s Field: Joseph Kindred, St. Augustine’s College

Kindred won the high jump and long jump at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships. His 7-5 clearance in the high jump leads the next-highest Division II performer by more than five inches, and he has the second-best mark in the long jump at 24-7¼. Kindred is a junior from Holly Springs, N.C.  

Men’s Coach: Michelle Latimer, Bowie State University

The Bulldogs finished second at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships in Latimer’s second season as head coach. Bowie State is sending six male athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships, including sophomore sprinter Dion Rodriquez and its 4 x 400 relay team. 

South Region 

Men’s Track: Daniel Kirwa, Harding University

Kirwa set a school record in his first meet for Harding, clocking 14:05.55 in the 5,000 meters at the Razorback Invitational. That time ranks him third nationally among Division II competitors, and he is second in the mile with a 4:07.05 best. Kirwa is a freshman from Eldoret, Kenya. 

Men’s Field: Ahmad Rolle, Clayton State University

Rolle qualified for the NCAA meet with a school-record 48-8 in the triple jump at the Indiana Relays. Rolle also holds the school record in the long jump (23-3¼) and was his team’s fastest 400-meter hurdler last spring at 53.87. Rolle is a junior from Nassau, Bahamas. 

Men’s Coach: Marvin Oliver, Albany State University

A pair of Oliver’s sprinters - Martin Garrion and Rodney Coley – qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Oliver has led teams to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s titles while at Albany State. 

Northeast Region 

Men’s Track: Keith Gill, Stonehill College

Gill has the fastest time in the mile (4:04.23) entering this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships in Mankato, Minn. He won 800 meters at the Northeast-10 Conference meet and finished first in the 1,000 meters at the New England Championships. He will be joined at nationals by his younger brother, Kevin, who also qualified in the mile. Keith is a senior from Brockton, Mass. 

Men’s Field: Robert Keizer, Southern Connecticut State University

Keizer triple jumped 50-4 at the IC4A Championships, making him the fourth-longest Division II performer of the season. A senior from Great Neck, N.Y., Keizer won the triple jump at the 2008 Northeast 10 Conference indoor meet. 

Men’s Coach: Karen Boen, Stonehill College

Stonehill finished second at the Northeast 10 Championships and tied for fifth in a 60-team field at the New England Championships, the best finish in program history. The Skyhawks qualified five athletes for the NCAA indoor meet, including Keith Gill, the national leader in the mile. Boen is in her ninth season at Stonehill. 
 

South Central Region 

Men’s Track: Jeremey Jackson, Pittsburg State University

Jackson qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 60-meter hurdles and is seeded second nationally with a best of 7.97. A linebacker on Pittsburg State’s football team, Jackson is a sophomore from Burton, Texas. 

Men’s Field: Wilbert Walker, Lincoln (Mo.) University

Walker enters this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships with the nation’s top Division II marks in the long jump (24-8½) and triple jump (53-3¾). A four-time NCAA champion, Walker set a Division II record in the long jump (26-8¼) at the 2006 outdoor championships. He is a junior from St. Thomas, Jamaica. 

Men’s Coach: Kirk Pedersen, Central Missouri University

The Mules won their third Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association indoor title in four years, scoring 120 points. Central Missouri qualified four men for the NCAA indoor meet. Pedersen has coached for 21 seasons at Central Missouri.   

Great Lakes Region 

Men’s Track: Jared Krout, Hillsdale College

Krout qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 (21.86) and 400 meters (48.76). A junior from Forest, Ohio, Krout won the 200, 400 and long jump at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference indoor meet. 

Men’s Field: Bryan Vickers, Ashland University

The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion brings the nation’s top mark in the shot put (64-0½) into this weekend’s NCAA meet. In the 35-pound weight throw, his 62-5¾ best puts Vickers fourth on the yearly list. Vickers, a senior from Circleville, Ohio, won the NCAA Division II outdoor title in the shot put last spring. 

Men’s Coach: Jud Logan, Ashland University

Ashland’s men and women finished second at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet. Ashland has the nation’s top-ranked performers in the shot put (Bryan Vickers) and weight throw (Robert Klenk). Ashland qualified three men for the weight throw at this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships.  

North Central Region 

Men’s Track: Denise Mokaya, Minnesota State University

Mokaya won the 800 meters and the mile in leading Minnesota State to its third straight North Central Conference indoor title. He is ranked second nationally in the 800 (1:51.41) and the mile (4:07.05). Mokaya, the 14^th-place finisher at the 2007 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, is a sophomore from Ngong, Kenya.  

Men’s Field: Matt Gersick, Adams State College

Gersick won the weight throw and finished second in the shot put to teammate John Ybarra at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference indoor meet in Kearney, Neb. A junior from Pueblo, Colo., Gersick qualified for the NCAA meet in both events and is seeded second in the weight throw with a best of 62-11½.  

Men’s Coach: Ryan Baily, Western State College of Colorado

Western State won its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference men’s indoor title since 1996 by outscoring arch-rival Adams State, 195 to 155 ½ points. The Mountaineers qualified four individuals and their distance medley for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Baily is in his third season as Western State’s head track and field coach.

Women's Awards

Rains, Pixler Top a Strong Class of Division II Women’s Indoor Regional Honorees 

NEW ORLEANS - Minnesota State’s Katelin Rains and Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler are among the female standouts honored as the best in their respective regions by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. 

The USTFCCCA selects the outstanding track athlete, field athlete and coach for the eight regions in Division II indoor track and field. Each of the 24 regional honorees will either compete or coach in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships this weekend in Mankato, Minn. 

Rains is the defending NCAA indoor champion and Division II record holder in the women’s pole vault. Pixler is the defending national champion in the mile. 

This year’s regional awards for Division II indoor track and field: 

East Region 

Women’s Track: Danielle Scardino, West Chester (Pa.) University

Scardino won three events at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships, finishing first in the 55 meters, 200 meters and 55-meter hurdles. The Golden Rams’ co-captain qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the hurdles with a best time of 8.74 seconds.  She is a senior from Levittown, Pa. 

Women’s Field: Jennifer Hansen, Slippery Rock University

Hansen was named the top performer on the field at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference meet on the strength of her winning jump of 13-1½ in the pole vault. The Slippery Rock standout is a three-time All-American. Hansen placed second at last year’s NCAA outdoor meet and is ranked second nationally this winter. She is a junior from Charleston, W.V. 

Women’s Coach: Dave Osanitsch, Shippensburg University

The Lady Raiders tied for first at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference indoor meet with Slippery Rock. Shippensburg’s 4 x 400 relay team – consisting of two freshmen and two sophomores – qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships. Osanitsch is in his third season as Shippensburg’s head track coach. 

West Region 

Women’s Track: Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific University

The defending NCAA indoor champion in the mile, Pixler should contend for three titles this weekend in Minnesota. She has the nation’s top times in the 800 meters (2:07.87) and mile (4:38.33) and is a member of Seattle Pacific’s nation-leading distance medley relay. Pixler is a sophomore from Sammamish, Wash. 

Women’s Field: Omonike Kotey, Cal State University Los Angeles

Kotey has the nation’s best mark in the triple jump (39-9¼) and will also compete in the long jump at the NCAA indoor meet. She finished fourth in the long jump at last year’s NCAA indoor meet. Kotey is a senior from Mission Viejo, Calif. 

Women’s Coach: Karl Lerum, Seattle Pacific University

The Falcons won nine events en route to their fifth consecutive Great Northwest Conference indoor championship. Seattle Pacific’s Jessica Pixler is the nation’s fastest Division II performer in the 800 meters and mile. Five of Lerum’s athletes qualified for the NCAA indoor meet. He is in his third season at Seattle Pacific. 

Southeast Region 

Women’s Track: Erica Young, St. Augustine's College

St. Augustine’s will defend its women’s title at this weekend’s NCAA indoor meet, and the Falcons are counting on big points from Young. She is seeded second in the 400 meters (54.49) and 10^th in the 800 meters (2:13.61). Young will also anchor St. Augustine’s third-seeded 4 x 400 relay.  

Women’s Field: DaMara Parrish, Bowie State University

Parrish was a one-woman show at the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association meet, scoring 32 points in leading the Lady Bulldogs to a second-place finish. Parrish qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 meters, long jump and triple jump. She is a senior from Severn, Md. 

Women’s Coach: George Williams, St. Augustine's College

At the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships, St. Augustine’s gave Williams his 14^th women’s indoor title. The Falcons will defend their NCAA women’s title this weekend. Williams, a member of the USTFCCCA Hall of Fame, has won nine NCAA women’s indoor championships during his historic run at St. Augustine’s. 

South Region 

Women’s Track: Allison Kreutzer, Clayton State University

A four-time All-American, Kreutzer will be making her second appearance in the 5,000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She qualified with a time of 17:27.36. Kreutzer, a senior from Lilburn, Ga., placed fourth in the 5,000 at last year’s NCAA outdoor meet. 

Women’s Field: Jana Mrozkova, Albany State University

After finishing third in the triple jump at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, Mrozkova has the nation’s third-best mark (39-2½) entering this weekend’s national indoor meet. Mrozkova is a senior from Trinec, Czech Republic. 

Women’s Coach: Mike Mead, Clayton State University

Mead is accompanying distance runner Allison Kreutzer and long jumper Jon Taylor to the NCAA indoor meet. This is Mead’s 12^th season as Clayton State’s track and cross country coach. 

Northeast Region 

Women’s Track: Letecia Taylor, Southern Connecticut State University

The two-time Northeast 10 Conference champion will compete in the 60-meter hurdles at the NCAA Indoor Championships. In addition to winning her conference title, Taylor placed fifth in the New England Championships in the 55-meter hurdles. Taylor is a sophomore from Plainfield, N.J. 

Women’s Field: Olivia Thibou, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Thibou triple jumped a career-best 38-11 to finish fourth at the New England Championships. That mark makes her the fifth-longest performer entering the NCAA Indoor Championships. Thibou, a sophomore from Boston, placed second in the triple jump and third in the long jump at the Northeast 10 Championships. 

Women’s Coach: Christopher Covert, Southern Connecticut State University

Nine first-place finishes helped the Owls win their second straight Northeast 10 Conference title. Three of Covert’s female athletes qualified for the NCAA meet – sprinter Symone Wong, hurdler Letecia Taylor and triple jumper Dominique Burrell. Covert is in his first season as Southern Connecticut State’s women’s coach after serving three seasons as a men’s assistant. 

South Central Region 

Women’s Track: Jonel Rossbach Emporia State University

Rossbach will take the top time in the 5,000 meters (16:54.12) to the starting line of this weekend’s NCAA Indoor Championships. At the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association meet, she swept the three longest races. Rossbach is a senior from Omaha, Neb. 

Women’s Field: Jessica Selby-Tallman, Missouri Southern State University

Selby-Tallman will try to improve on last year’s second-place finish when she competes in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships. She enters these nationals with the longest Division II throw in the country at 51-9. Selby-Tallman won the shot and weight throw at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association indoor meet. She is a senior from Galena, Mo. 

Women’s Coach: Victor Thomas, Lincoln (Mo.) University

With a pair of NCAA women’s indoor championships to his credit, Thomas takes another title contender team to this weekend’s event at Minnesota State. Lincoln qualified eight individuals and its 4 x 400 relay team for the NCAA Championships. Thomas, a native Jamaican, is in his seventh season as Lincoln’s coach. 

Great Lakes Region 

Women’s Track: Kirby Blackley, University of Findlay

Blackley has the second-best Division II marks in the 60-meter hurdles (8.33) and long jump (19-4¾) entering the NCAA Championships. She won the hurdles and long jump, placed second in the 55 meters and ran on Findlay’s winning 4 x 400 relay team at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference meet. Blackley is a senior from Cincinnati. 

Women’s Field: Jennifer Tinney, Ashland University

Tinney will compete in both throwing events at the NCAA Indoor Championships after winning the shot and placing fifth in the weight at the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships. Tinney is the third-longest Division II performer in the shot put at 49-11¼. She is a senior from Norwalk, Ohio.  

Women’s Coach David Astrauskas, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Astrauskas is taking nine women to the NCAA Indoor Championships, a just reward for an outstanding season in which the Cougars won the Great Lakes Valley Conference title with 270 points. Deserea Brown will compete in three events (60-meter hurdles, 400 meters and 4 x 400 relay) at nationals. Astrauskas is in his second season as the head women’s track coach at SIU Edwardsville. 

North Central Region 

Women’s Track: Pinar Saka, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Saka leads all NCAA entrants in the 200 meters (24.49) and 400 meters (53.91) at this weekend’s national indoor championships. She won both events at the North Central Conference meet. Saka is a junior from Istanbul, Turkey. 

Women’s Field: Katelin Rains, Minnesota State University

Rains, the Division II record holder in the women’s pole vault, will shoot for her second straight NCAA indoor championship this weekend. She vaulted 14-0½ earlier this season to break the Division II mark she set at last year’s NCAA indoor meet. At the North Central Conference Championships, Rains won the pole vault and triple jump. She will compete in both events at the NCAA meet. Rains is a junior from Spring Lake Park, Minn. 

Women’s Coach: Mike Thorson, University of Mary

Thorson was named the Northern Sun Conference men’s and women’s coach of the year after leading the Marauders to a pair of team titles. U-Mary qualified three athletes for the national championships. This is Thorson’s 15^th season as the head track coach at U-Mary.