NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2018 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced Monday (March 5) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) captured five awards 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 junior from Cincinnati, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the 400 with a time of 46.42 and fifth nationally in the 200 with a time of 21.32. He set school records in both of those events during the season and will double at NCAAs.
MEN'S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
MIDWEST REGION – Alex Hill – Ashland
Hill, a sophomore from Mansfield, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in the weight throw with a mark of 22.49m (73-9¼), which is the third best mark in NCAA DII history. He is undefeated against collegiate competition and helped the Eagles earn the No. 1 USTFCCCA Squad Ranking in the event across all divisions.
MEN'S COACH OF THE YEAR
MIDWEST REGION – Jeremy Croy – Tiffin
Croy, in his 18th year with Tiffin, guided the Dragons to a runner-up finish at the GLIAC Championships. His athletes picked up GLIAC titles in the 60, mile, 3000, 60 hurdles, long jump, triple jump and shot put. Croy and the Dragons head into the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships ranked second nationally.
MEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
MIDWEST REGION – Aaron Watson – Grand Valley State
Watson, in his fourth year at Grand Valley State, coached the Lakers’ distance runners that scored 43 points to help the team capture the GLIAC Championship. In total, his athletes hit nine Automatic Qualifying Marks for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships on the season.
WOMEN'S ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
MIDWEST REGION – Alan Dunson – Grand Valley State
Dunson, in his third year at Grand Valley State, coached the sprinters and hurdlers to 73 points for the GLIAC Championship-winning Lakers. His athletes notched eight top-40 NCAA Division II Descending Order List marks on the season, including the second-best 4×400 time of 3:42.38.
