NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central and West – honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
 

Men's Track Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Luke Pohl – Cornerstone (Mich.)

Pohl, who hails from Plymouth, Michigan, sits atop the NAIA's 10,000-meter rankings at 29:57.66. He is also ranked ninth nationally in the 5000 meters at 14:29.64.

MIDWEST REGION – Payton Mauldin – Dordt (Iowa)

Mauldin, who hails from George, Iowa, enters the NAIA Outdoor Championships as the top-ranked athlete in the 800 meters at 1:49.07. He scored 22.5 points at the GPAC Outdoor Championships thanks to victories in the 400 meters and 800 meters, as well as being part of the winning 4×400 relay, and was named the GPAC Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet.

SOUTH REGION – Saminu Abdul-Rasheed – Florida Memorial

Abdul-Rasheed, who hails from Nanumba, South Ghana, reigns as the NAIA's top 100-meter runner with a remarkable time of 9.97, which puts him among the fastest athletes in NAIA history. He ranks second in the NAIA in the 200m with a time of 20.50. Abdul-Rasheed emerged victorious in both the 100m and 200m at the Sun Conference Outdoor Championships.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Jaylan Washington – Ottawa (Kan.)

Washington, who hails from Ottawa, Kansas, is ranked third nationally in the 100 meters at 10.21. He clocked six sub-10.50 performances this season in the 100, including his PR to win the event title at the KCAC Outdoor Championships. Washington also won the 200 meters at the conference championships and anchored the winning 4×100 relay.

WEST REGION – Davis Boggess – The Master's (Calif.)

Boggess, who hails from Flagstaff, is the national leader in the 5000 meters at 13:54.68. That also puts him among the top-10 athletes in NAIA history. He is also ranked among the top-5 athletes on the seasonal Descending Order List in the 1500 meters with his PR 3:47.86. Boggess scored 30.5 points at the GPAC Outdoor Championships and was named the Male Track Top Point MVP for his efforts.

Men's Field Athlete of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Noah Thomas – Pikeville (Ky.)

Thomas, who hails from Ashland, Kentucky, scored 28 points in field events at the Mid-South Outdoor Championships. He won the hammer with a PR 55.71m (182-10), finished runner-up in the javelin, took third in the discus and placed fifth in the shot put.

MIDWEST REGION – Dylan Kucera – Midland (Neb.)

Kucera, who hails from Fremont, Nebraska, continued his dominance in the shot put. He had the 29 farthest throws in the NAIA this season with 17 of them traveling more than 18.28m (60-0). Kucera set seasonal bests in both the shot put (19.47m/63-10½) and hammer (64.15m/210-6) in winning efforts at the GPAC Outdoor Championships.

SOUTH REGION – David Friedberg – Reinhardt (Ga.)

Friedberg, who hails from Ellabell, GA, leads the nation in the javelin with a heave of 71.23m (233-9). He had eight of the farthest throws in the NAIA this season.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Vance Shewey – Tabor (Kan.)

Shewey, who hails from Meade, Kansas, is currently ranked third nationally in the high jump at 2.09m (6-10¼). He is also ranked among the top-20 athletes on the NAIA Descending Order List in the long jump with his best of 7.28m (23-10¾).

WEST REGION – Rowan Hamilton – British Columbia

Hamilton, who hails from Chilliwack, British Columbia, is ranked first collegiately in the hammer with a heave of 75.77m (248-7). He leads the NAIA in the event by more than 34 feet.

Men's Coach of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION – Michael Holman – Marian (Ind.)

Holman, in his 10th year as the Director of Track & Field at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to a No. 5 ranking nationally in addition to a Crossroads League team title. His team achieved top-10 national rankings in seven events, topped by No. 2 showings in the shot put and discus. Marian also was rated No. 3 in the 4×800 relay and No. 6 in the steeplechase.

MIDWEST REGION – Craig Heynen – Dordt (Iowa)

Heynen, in his 15th year as head coach at Dordt (Iowa), led the Defenders to the GPAC team title with seven individual titles and one relay victory. His rated No. 4 nationally overall and had top-10 national event rankings in five events. He was named the GPAC Outdoor Coach of the Year.

SOUTH REGION – Nick Dodson – Southeastern (Fla.)

Dodson, in his fifth year as Director of Track & Field at Southeastern (Fla.), led the Fire to the Sun Conference title with a record-breaking 313 points. His athletes topped the national #EventSquad Rankings in four events with two others in the top-6. His athletes rated No. 1 in the 400 and 110 hurdles, while overall combining to set 11 school records. He was named the Sun Conference Coach of the Year.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGION – Alstin Benton – Saint Mary (Kan.)

Benton, in his 10th year as head coach at Saint Mary (Kan.), guided the Spires to the KCAC Championships team title with 202 points. They won eight events at the KCAC Championships and season-long had seven top-20 rankings.

WEST REGION – Zachary Schroeder – The Master's (Calif.)

Schroeder, in his 17th year as head coach at The Master's (Calif.), led the Mustangs to GSAC team title, collecting nine event crowns. His team had strong showings in the distance events, especially in the 5000 with four of the top-13 nationally in earning No. 1 #EventSquad Ranking. Ten of his 1500-meter runners combined to produce 28 sub-4 performances. He was named GSAC Coach of the Year.