Story courtesy of USTFCCCA
NEW ORLEANS – National Athletes & Coaches of the Year for the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Tuesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
These awards were voted on by USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, based off of performances at that meet, as well as throughout the rest of the regular season.
Only athletes and coaches from USTFCCCA member institutions are eligible to win awards.
Men's Awards
Trevor Bassitt, Ashland | Track Athlete of the Year
Bassitt, a senior from Bluffton, Ohio, was all over the board at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, scoring 29.5 points for the Eagles as they won the national championship.
At the conclusion of his three preliminary rounds on Friday, Bassitt ran the 400 leg on the DMR that finished fifth. Then on Saturday, he kicked off his day with a third place finish in the 60 (6.76) before claiming three straight national titles. He won the 60H (7.83), 200 (20.48) and anchored the victorious 4×400 (3:10.15) with a 45.52 split.
It was a record breaking season for Bassitt. His winning time of 20.48 in the 200 this past weekend set the official NCAA DII record in the event, as he already owned the all-conditions best of 20.40 clocked at the GLIAC Championships. He also set the NCAA DII record in the 400 at 45.27 and is the No. 2 performer all-time in the 60H (7.67).
Jud Logan, Ashland | Coach of the Year
Logan, in his 16th year at Ashland, led the Eagles to their second straight indoor national championship this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. It was a complete team effort by Ashland to bring home the program's second national title, as the men put up 70 points across nine events for a 17 point victory. The Eagles scored in the 60 (9), 200 (14), 400 (8), mile (4), 60H (10), 4×400 (10), DMR (4), WT (5) and the heptathlon (6). Two weeks earlier, the Eagles finished second at the GLIAC Championships with 172 points.
Ernie Clark, Ashland | Assistant Coach of the Year
Clark, in his third year at Ashland, guided his Eagle sprint squad to new heights this indoor season. His athletes combined for 51 points to lift the Eagles to a team title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. The Eagles scored in every sprint event contested and contributed to the DMR. He coached Trevor Bassitt, one of the nation's top athletes this season, and guided him to two NCAA DII records and three national titles. His sprinters scored 76 points at the GLIAC Championships and claimed five conference titles.
Women's Awards
Nicole Sreenan, Grand Valley St. | Track Athlete of the Year
Sreenan, a senior from Elburn, Illinois, notched 17.25 points for the Lakers as they won the team title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. She won the 400 in 54.21 to claim the national title. She then came back to finish third in the 200 in 24.37 and ran on the fourth-place 4×400 (3:47.91) with a 54.40 anchor leg. She was the national leader in several events this season – 60 (7.41), 200 (23.70) and 400 (53.35), and as part of the Lakers' 4×400 (3:44.76) and DMR (11:21.12).
Cheyenne Williamson, Saginaw Valley St. | Field Athlete of the Year
Williamson, a sophomore from Essexville, starred at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships with 20 points in the field events and two national titles. Her weekend started on Thursday with the pentathlon, as she scored 4113 points to secure her first national championship. Her point total ranks her as the No. 5 performer all-time in NCAA DII history.
She kicked off the pentathlon by clocking 8.44 in the 60H before clearing 1.67m (5-5¾) in the high jump and throwing 11.20m (33-9½) in the shot put. Williamson ended the competition with two new PRs – she soared 6.06m (19-10¾) in the long jump and ran the 800 in 2:22.56 to seal the win.
Williamson came back on Friday and shattered her one-day old PR in the long jump, soaring 6.35m (20-10) in round three to claim her second national title of the weekend. That jump makes her the No. 7 performer all-time in NCAA DII.
Jerry Baltes, Grand Valley St. | Coach of the Year
Baltes, in his 22nd year at Grand Valley State, led the Lakers back to the top of the podium in dominating fashion. Grand Valley State scored 90 points for a 53 point margin of victory for the program's third title, and first since 2012 when they scored 94 points. The Lakers scored in 11 events and had three national champions in the 60, 400, DMR and pole vault. Baltes' squad was ranked No. 1 in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index throughout the duration of the season and rolled to the program's 22nd consecutive title at the GLIAC Championships with 255.33 points.
