2020 USTFCCCA NCAA Division I Cross Country Regional Awards

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2020 NCAA Division I Cross Country season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the nine regions – Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mountain, Northeast, South, South Central, Southeast and West – honored both the top men’s and women’s athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches.
PAST AWARD HISTORY: Regional Athletes of the Year | Regional Coaches of the Year
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Men’s Athletes of the Year

The Dan McClimon Award
GREAT LAKES REGION — Danny Kilrea — Notre Dame
Kilrea, a junior from LaGrange, Illinois, placed 10th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Kilrea also finished seventh at the ACC Cross Country Championships last October and took ninth at the Silver State Collegiate Challenge in early February.
The Charles Werner Award
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Haftu Strintzos — Villanova
Strintzos, a sophomore from Victoria, Australia, finished 66th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Strintzos won the individual title at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships.
The Bill Bergan Award
MIDWEST REGION — Wesley Kiptoo — Iowa State
Kiptoo, a junior from Marakwet, Kenya, finished third at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Kiptoo won four consecutive individual titles, including those at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships, the Florida State Winter Classic, the Cowboy Jamboree and the Bob Timmons Classic.
MOUNTAIN REGION — Conner Mantz — BYU
Mantz, a junior from Smithfield, Utah, won the individual title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Mantz also crossed the finish line first at the West Coast Conference Cross Country Championships and the Silver State Collegiate Challenge. He also finished runner-up at the Oklahoma State Invitational.
The Fred Tootell Award
NORTHEAST REGION — Jack O’Leary — Iona
O’Leary, a senior from Killucan, Ireland, finished 25th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, O’Leary won individual titles at both the MAAC Cross Country Championships and the Spider Patriot Cross Classic.
SOUTH REGION — Adriaan Wildschutt — Florida State
Wildschutt, a junior from Ceres, South Africa, finished runner-up at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Wildschutt won an individual title at the Florida State Last Chance Meet and finished third at the Florida State Winter Classic.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Amon Kemboi — Arkansas
Kemboi, a senior from Kapsabet, Kenya, finished 11th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Kemboi won an individual title at the UAB Blazer Classic and finished fifth at the SEC Cross Country Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Zach Facioni — Wake Forest
Facioni, a junio from Sydney, Australia, finished 27th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Facioni finished fourth at the Florida State Winter Classic.
The John Chaplin Award
WEST REGION — Charles Hicks — Stanford
Hicks, a freshman from Jacksonville, Florida, finished 14th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Hicks took runner-up honors at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships and sixth at both the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge and the Florida State Winter Classic.

Men’s Coaches of the Year

The Earle Hayes Award
GREAT LAKES REGION — Sean Carlson — Notre Dame
Carlson, in his second year at Notre Dame, led the Irish to a second-place finish with 87 points at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Notre Dame won the team title at the ACC Championships with 40 points and the Irish Classic with a perfect score of 15 points.
The Harry Groves Award
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Marcus O’Sullivan — Villanova
O’Sullivan, in his 21st year at Villanova, coached the Wildcats to a 20th-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Villanova was third in the BIG EAST Championships with 54 points.
The Roy Griak Award
MIDWEST REGION — Dave Smith — Oklahoma State
Smith, in his 15th year at Oklahoma State, guided the Cowboys to a third-place finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Oklahoma State won the team title at the Big 12 Championships with 31 points and the Cowboy Jamboree with 23 points. OSU was also second at the Oklahoma State Invitational with 42 points.
The Chick Hislop Award
MOUNTAIN REGION — Michael Smith — Northern Arizona
Smith, in his fourth year at Northern Arizona, coached the Lumberjacks to the team title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Northern Arizona won the team title at the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge with 20 points and the Oklahoma State Invitational with 36 points. NAU was also second in the Big Sky Championships with 38 points.
The Robert Grieve Award
NORTHEAST REGION — Joe Pienta — Iona
Pienta, in his third year at Iona, led the Gaels to a 10th-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Iona won team titles at the MAAC Championships with a perfect score of 15 points and the Spider Patriot Cross Classic with 24 points.
The Dave Walker Award
SOUTH REGION — Ryan Vanhoy — Ole Miss
Vanhoy, in his eighth year at Ole Miss, coached the Rebels to a 12th-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Ole Miss won a team title at the Live in Lou Cross Country Classic with 28 points and was second at SEC Championships with 59 points.
The Johnny Morriss Award
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Chris Bucknam — Arkansas
Bucknam, in his 13th year at Arkansas, guided the Razorbacks to a fourth-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Arkansas won the team title at SEC Championships with 35 points, the UAB Blazer Classic with 29 points and the SEC Preview with 29 points.
SOUTHEAST REGION — John Hayes — Wake Forest
Hayes, in his fifth year at Wake Forest, led the Demon Deacons to a 15th-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Wake Forest was third in ACC Championships with 86 points and second in the Cavalier Classic with 49 points. The Deacons also won a triangular meet against UNC and NC State with 30 points.
The Dean Miller Award
WEST REGION — J.J. Clark — Stanford
Clark, in his second year at Stanford, coached the Cardinal to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA DIvision I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Stanford won the team title at the Pac-12 Championships with 28 points and the Florida State Winter Classic with 67 points. The Cardinal also finished second at the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge with 48 points.

Women’s Athletes of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION — Jenna Magness — Michigan State
Magness, a junior from Grand Ledge, Michigan, finished 16th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Magness took third place at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Maggie Donahue — Georgetown
Donahue, a sophomore from Wellesley, Massachusetts, finished 32nd at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Donahue took runner-up honors at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships and finished third at the Spider Patriot Cross Classic.
MIDWEST REGION — Taylor Roe — Oklahoma State
Roe, a sophomore from Lake Stevens, Washington, finished runner-up at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Roe also earned runner-up honors at a trio of meets, including the Big 12 Cross Country Championships.  Roe was fourth at the Florida State Winter Classic and the Oklahoma State Winter Open.
MOUNTAIN REGION — Mahala Norris — Air Force
Norris, a senior from Roseburg, Oregon, finished fourth at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Norris won individual titles at both the Mountain West Cross Country Championships and the Silver State Collegiate Challenge.
NORTHEAST REGION — Emily Mackay — Binghamton
Mackay, a senior from Endicott, New York, finished 14th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Mackay won individual titles at both the America East Cross Country Championships and the Vermont Quad.
SOUTH REGION — Mercy Chelangat — Alabama
Chelangat, a junior from Kericho, Kenya, won the individual title at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Chelangat won individual titles at both the SEC Cross Country Championships and the Florida State Invitational, as well as finishing third at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Grace Forbes — Rice
Forbes, a sophomore from Wallingford, Pennsylvania, finished 19th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Forbes won the individual title at the Conference USA Cross Country Championships.
SOUTHEAST REGION — Hannah Steelman — NC State
Steelman, a senior from Orono, Maine, finished fifth at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Steelman won an individual title at the Virginia Tech Invitational, finished second at the Wolfpack Invitational and third at the ACC Cross Country Championships.
WEST REGION — Ella Donaghu — Stanford
Donaghu, a senior from Portland, Oregon, finished 10th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Donaghu took runner-up honors at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships and won individual titles at both the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge as well as the Florida State Winter Classic.

Women’s Coaches of the Year

GREAT LAKES REGION — Lisa Breznau — Michigan State
Breznau, in her first year as head coach at Michigan State, led the Spartans to a fourth place finish with 212 points at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships this past weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Michigan State also won the team title at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships.
MID-ATLANTIC REGION — Mitchell Baker — Georgetown
Baker, in his first year overseeing the women’s program at Georgetown, guided the Hoyas to an 18th place team finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Georgetown captured the team title at the BIG EAST Championships while also winning the Spider Patriot Cross Classic.
MIDWEST REGION — Sarah Hopkins — Minnesota
Hopkins, in her eighth year at Minnesota, guided the Gophers to a fifth place team finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, the Gophers also finished second in the team standings at the Big Ten Cross Country Championships.
The Patrick Shane Award
MOUNTAIN REGION — Diljeet Taylor — BYU
Taylor, in her fifth year as head coach at BYU, led the Cougars to the team title with 96 points at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, BYU won team titles at the West Coast Cross Country Championships, the Silver State Collegiate Challenge, and the Oklahoma State Invitational.
The Ray Treacy Award
NORTHEAST REGION — Lindsay Crevoiserat — UConn
Crevoiserat, in her second year at UConn, coached the Huskies to a runner-up finish at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championships. Earlier in the season, Connecticut also placed second at the Spider Patriot Cross Classic and 14th at the Florida State Winter Classic.
SOUTH REGION — Dan Waters — Alabama
Waters, in his 10th year at Alabama, guided the Crimson Tide to an eighth place team finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Alabama finished runner-up at the SEC Championships, while also earning a pair of second-place finishes at the Florida State Invitational and Vanderbilt Commodore Classic in regular season competition.
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION — Lance Harter — Arkansas
Harter, in his 31st year as head coach at Arkansas, led the Razorbacks to a 10th place team finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Arkansas won team titles at the SEC Championships, the UAB Blazer Classic, Gans Creek Classic and the SEC Preview.
The Rollie Geiger Award
SOUTHEAST REGION — Laurie Henes — NC State
Henes, in her 15th year as head coach at NC State, led the Wolfpack to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, NC State also claimed the team title at the ACC Cross Country Championships. In regular season competition, NC State won the  Wolfpack Invitational and Virginia Tech Invitational and placed second at Wake Forest vs. UNC vs. NC State.
The Tom Heinonen Award
WEST REGION — J.J. Clark — Stanford
Clark, in his second year as head coach at Stanford, guided the Cardinal to a third place finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Earlier in the season, Stanford captured the team title at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships, while finishing second at both the Battle Born Collegiate Challenge and Florida State Winter Classic.