NEW ORLEANS – Following the 2016 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships this past weekend in Bradenton, Florida, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday this season's National Athletes of the Year. Hillsdale senior sensation Emily Oren captures 2016 Women's Track Athlete of the Year honors, while her distance coach Joe Lynn was selected Women's Assistant Coach of the Year.
WOMEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
EMILY OREN — HILLSDALE
Oren, a senior from Holland, Michigan, was the overall high-point scorer of the NCAA Division II Championships, tallying 26 points. She earned a pair of national titles in the steeplechase (10:06.75) and the 1500 (4:20.61), and finished third at 5000 meters in 16:37.41. During the regular season, she set a DII record in the steeplechase at 9:50.54. She also posted strong marks in the 1500 (4:21.69) and the 5000 (16:22.93), in which she is ranked second and eighth nationally, respectively.
WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
JOE LYNN — HILLSDALE
Lynn, in his third year leading the Hillsdale distance program, mentored Emily Oren to high-point scorer honors at the NCAA DII Championships with a pair of national titles in the steeplechase and the 1500, and an additional third-place effort at 5000 meters. Overall, his athletes scored 43 points at the national championships – all but two of Hillsdale's third-place total. He guided his athletes to an impressive nine top-10 national performances this year. Under his tutelage, Oren broke the NCAA DII steeplechase record and her sister, Emily, ranked No. 2 this season.
