NEW ORLEANS – Six have earned Great Lakes Region athlete and coaches of the year honors for the outdoor season, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Track – Jordan Leverette – Baldwin Wallace
Leverette, a senior from Cleveland, Ohio, is ranked first nationally in both the 100 and the 200. He won individual titles at the All-Ohio Championships in each of those events and broke the meet record in the 200. Leverette was named National Athlete of the Week twice during the outdoor season.
Field– Zak Dysert – Baldwin Wallace
Dysert, a senior from McDonald, Pennsylvania, is ranked first nationally in the hammer at 64.21m (210-8). That heave made him the 10th best performer in NCAA DIII history. Dysert has been consistent throughout the season, throwing more than 60 meters in seven different meets. He was named OAC Field Athlete of the Year after scoring 16 points at the conference meet, which included a victory in the hammer.
Men's Coach – Kevin Lucas – Mount Union
Lucas, in his 10th year at Head Coach at Mount Union, led the Raiders to the OAC Championship and qualified eight to the upcoming NCAA Championships. The Raiders finished the regular season ranked in the top 15 nationally and first in the Great Lakes Region.
Men's Assistant Coach – Jake Alexander – John Carroll
Alexander, in his fifth year with the John Carroll program, had his athletes account for 92 of 183 total points at the conference championships. He had four athletes qualify for nationals across five events to go with six All-Region performances that included the No. 1 4×100 and long jump. In the #EventSquad rankings his athletes are No. 4 in the 200, No. 6 in the 100 and No. 16 in the long jump.
Women's Coach – Kyle Basista – John Carroll
In his 5th year as Head Men’s and Women’s Track & Field Coach at John Carroll, Basista led the Blue Streak to their first-ever OAC Championship and highest-ever national ranking. With nine school records set during the season and five qualifiers to the upcoming NCAA Championships, the Blue Streak finished the regular season ranked second in the Great Lakes Region.
Women's Assistant Coach – Jake Alexander – John Carroll
Alexander, in his fifth year with the program, saw his athletes account for 113 of 174 team points at the conference championship meet. He had five athletes qualify to nationals across four events (100, 200, 100H and 4×100) o go with nine All-Region honorees which includes the No. 1 ranked athletes in four events (100, 200, 100H and triple jump). When it comes to #EventSquad rankings his units are No. 4 in the 100 and 16th in the 200 at the national level.
