NCAA Division II Regional Award Winners For 2017 Indoor Season

NCAA Division II Regional Award Winners For 2017 Indoor Season

Official USTFCCCA Release

NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced Monday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) captured all but one award distributed throughout the Midwest Region.

Each of the 8 regions honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes, and the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following a nomination period. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

MEN'S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Myles Pringle – Ashland

Pringle, a sophomore from Cincinnati, Ohio, is ranked 1st nationally at 400 meters (46.11), 11th nationally at 200 meters (21.39) and is a member of the 4th-ranked nationally 4×400 relay (3:12.59). His time in the 400 is good enough for the 4th fastest mark in NCAA DII history. Pringle will also compete as a member of the DMR team at NCAAs.

MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Coy Blair – Tiffin

Blair, a redshirt-senior from Logan, Ohio, posted the 6th-best performance in Division II history in the shot put this season with a national-leading mark of 19.54m (64-1¼).  Blair also notched the 4th-best weight throw mark in Division II this year at 20.85m (68-4¾). He won the GLIAC Championship in both events, being named the Field Athlete of the Year for the conference.

WOMEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Megan Tomei – Ashland

Tomei, a redshirt-senior from Tallmadge, Ohio, was 2nd in Division II in the shot put this year with a toss of 15.91m (52-2½). Her weight throw mark of 20.21m (66-3¾) stood at 4th in Division II. Both of those marks were good for 1st in the Midwest Region  (2n/1r). 

MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Jud Logan – Ashland

Logan's Eagles has been the No. 1-ranked team in the USTFCCCA National Rankings for the past six weeks and enter the NCAA Championships with 14 entries, the second-most among all squads. Ashland owns division leaders in the 400 meters and weight throw. They finished third in the GLIAC Championships with three event winners.

WOMEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Jerry Baltes – Grand Valley State

Baltes, in his 18th year with the program, was instrumental in Grand Valley State's GLIAC Championship. Twelve of his athletes recorded points in 14 scoring opportunities at the NCAA Championships. His athletes also hold down 17 top-20 marks in all of Division II this year, including Kendra Foley's top time in the 5000 meters.

MEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Raymond Robinson – Tiffin

Robinson, in his 5th year with the program, and his throwers played an integral part in Tiffin's GLIAC Championship, as his throwers scored 24 team points. His shot put squad ranked 1st in the Division II squad rankings with the 1st, 9th, 16th, 21st, 26th and 32nd best marks in Division II. Coy Blair posted the 6th-best performance in Division II history this season under Robinson's watch. Tiffin's weight throw squad also ranked 2nd in the squad rankings. 

WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR

MIDWEST REGION – Blaine Maag – Findlay

Maag, in his 1st year with the program, has qualified five entries for NCAAs – of which, four are ranked in the top-10 of their respective events including three in the top-10 of the weight throw. He is the throws coach at Findlay.