NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2024 NCAA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Wednesday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the ten regions – East, Great Lakes, Metro, Mid-Atlantic, Mideast, Midwest, Niagara, North, South, West – honored both genders’ top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men’s and women’s head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
The Ohio Athletic Conference, in the Great Lakes Region, had six regional award winners for the 2023-24 Indoor Track & Field season.
Men's Field Athlete of the Year - Keegan Digby - Ohio Northern
Digby, who hails from Bowling Green, Ohio, is ranked fifth nationally in the shot put at 17.29m (56-8¾) with a winning mark that he threw at the OAC Indoor Championships. He also placed fourth in the weight throw and was named OAC Field Athlete of the Meet for his efforts.
Men's Coach of the Year - Kevin Lucas - Mount Union
Lucas, in his 15th year as head coach at Mount Union, led the Purple Raiders to the team title at the OAC Indoor Championships with 198 points while winning three events as his staff earned OAC Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Mount Union is the No. 1 ranked team in the Great Lakes Region and has athletes competing in two events in the national championships.
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year - Molly Amidon - Ohio Northern
Amidon, in her seventh year as assistant coach at Ohio Northern, coached Polar Bear sprinters and hurdlers to account for 48 of the team’s 97 points in finishing third at the OAC Indoor Championships. Her athletes set school records in five events, with one individual and the 4×400 relay team qualified for the national championships.
Women's Track Athlete of the Year - Kenadee Wayt - Mount Union
Wayt, who hails from Wheeling, West Virginia, has had a dream season thus far. She set NCAA DIII records in both the 300 meters and 500 meters, is ranked among the top-3 athletes on the seasonal chart in three different individual events, and scored 32.5 points at the OAC Indoor Championships to help Mount Union win the team title. Her first NCAA DIII record came in the 300 meters back in January when she ran 39.33 and most recently added 200 meters to that and went 1:13.23 at the OAC Indoor Championships for the 500-meter best.
Women's Coach of the Year - Kevin Lucas - Mount Union
Lucas, in his 15th year as head coach at Mount Union, led the Purple Raiders to the team title in the OAC Indoor Championships with 199 points, winning six events. Mount Union, ranked No. 1 in the Great Lakes Region, has six top-10 national marks with five rating in the top-5.
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year - Tyler Neff - Mount Union
Neff, in his sixth year as assistant coach at Mount Union, coached Purple Raider sprinters to 87 of the team’s 199 points, winning five events as Mount Union won the OAC Indoor Championships. His 400-meter group has the No. 1 national #EventSquad ranking and is led by Kenadee Wayt, who set a national record in the 500 and an all-time, all-conditions best in the 300.
