2023 D2 Indoor Track End of Season Awards

Written by Garrett Zatlin, Grace McLaughlin & Marissa Kuik, votes via TSR D2 staff

Welcome back to a trimestrial classic, our End of Season Awards!

Below, we listed our five seasonal awards for the men and five seasonal awards for the women. These awards are a way to highlight the accomplishments of certain individuals from the entirety of this indoor track season. You'll also find our criteria for each of these awards as we list our nominees.

In the second-half of this article, you'll find the votes from our TSR contributors (click that link if you want to skip all of the summary parts). D3 awards are in the works! You can also read our D1 End of Season Awards here.

Let's begin...

*Redshirt freshmen are not considered for this award. Athletes who have freshman eligibility stemming from the pandemic extension are not included in this award. International freshmen are included amongst these candidates unless we have a reason to believe that they do not meet our above criteria. Athletes who began their NCAA eligibility last spring and are competing in their first season of indoor track are considered true freshmen.

Nominees: Tyler Nord (Western Colorado), Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead), Tim Thompson (Colorado Mines), Riley Witt (NW Missouri), Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Lars Laros (Wingate)

Tyler Nord (Western Colorado)

One of the more pleasant surprises of this 2023 indoor track season was seeing true rookie Tyler Nord emerge as a top distance talent in the nation. The Mountaineer freshman posted marks of 4:03 (converted) in the mile and 7:57 (converted) for 3000 meters, showcasing excellent dynamism that most veterans aren't able to flex. And after winning the RMAC 3k title and finishing 3rd in the same event at the indoor national meet, there's a very good argument for Nord to be voted as the best rookie in Division Two this winter.

Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

It was a loaded year for the men's 800 meters which is why it could be easy to get lost in the mass sea of talent. But Jared Gregoire had quite the indoor track season, running an 800 meter PR of 1:50 (which earned a very small conversion) before running 2:27 for 1000 meters to win the NSIC title (as well as the NSIC title in the DMR). He was the first man out of the 800 meter finals at the NCAA Indoor Championships, but the consistency of this MSU-Moorhead rookie was highly encouraging.

Tim Thompson (Colorado Mines)

Yet another half-mile specialist, Tim Thompson proved to be a top talent for the Orediggers over 800 meters, running a converted time of 1:50 over that distance. The rookie secured a handful of key wins and never truly had a "poor" race. That consistency, paired with a nationally competitive time, makes Thompson the perfect nominee for this award.

Riley Witt (NW Missouri)

This Bearcat rookie was a very solid middle distance talent, emerging as a fairly competitive name in both the 800 meters and the mile. Not only did this NW Missouri freshman run 1:51 (800) and 4:08 (mile), but he also posted a highly encouraging mark of 2:25 for 1000 meters. Overall, there was a lot of great middle distance value that Witt brought to the table and it seems like he has plenty of room to grow as well.

Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Forget the "Best Freshman" award, this is someone who could win our "Most Valuable" award! The Wingate superstar was beyond excellent in his first year with the Bulldogs. He ran a true 4:01 mile PR as well as a flat-track converted 3k time of 7:56, making him one of the most lethal distance talents in the nation regardless of eligibility. And when Chahid reached the national stage, he ran like a veteran, earning two gold medals during the DMR/3k double. Truthfully, we're not sure if this freshman has any true weaknesses.

Lars Laros (Wingate)

Yet another strong Wingate talent, Lars Laros was a key member for the Bulldogs this winter, posting solid mile and 3k marks over the last few months. With times of 4:06 (mile) and 8:09 (3k), both flat-track converted, Laros brought excellent long-term value to a roster that is already crazy deep. That couldn't be more evident after Laros helped Wingate win the DMR national title.

*Redshirt freshmen are not considered for this award. Athletes who have freshman eligibility stemming from the pandemic extension are not included in this award. International freshmen are included amongst these candidates unless we have a reason to believe that they do not meet our above criteria. Athletes who began their NCAA eligibility last spring and are competing in their first season of indoor track are considered true freshmen.

Nominees: Maggie McCleskey (Adams State), Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State), Megan Adams (Lee (Tenn.)), Jentrie Alderson (Pittsburg State), Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State), Lisa Redlinger (Academy of Art)

Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

It's hard to deny how outstanding Maggie McCleskey was this winter. The Adams State frosh not only ran a 4:47 mile conversion earlier in the season, but she later validated that mark by running 4:47 in the mile prelims at the NCAA Indoor Championships! An 8th place All-American finish, multiple instances of running under 4:50 in the mile (unconverted), an RMAC title and a 2:14 mark over 800 meters is massively impressive for a rookie.

Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Sure, Lauren Kiley didn't earn an All-American honor on the national stage like Maggie McClesky did, but she was arguably better through multiple events. With marks of 9:29 (3k) and 16:41 (5k), both of which put her on the national stage, as well as a 4:51 mile PR, there is an argument for Lauren Kiley to win this award.

Megan Adams (Lee (Tenn.))

Lee continues to pump out underrated distance talent after underrated distance talent. This time, it's Megan Adams who ran a 9:43 (3k) flat-track conversion this winter. That mark kept her in the top-30 for the event on the national leaderboard and it also didn't hurt that she won two Gulf South titles, giving her resume great finishes and a top time.

Jentrie Alderson (Pittsburg State)

While her resume doesn't jump off the page, Jentri Alderson was able to produce two top-50 marks, nationally, in the 3k and the 5k this winter. A 4:59 mile PR certainly didn't hurt her resume, nor did winning a MIAA title over 5000 meters. In terms of well-roundedness, Alderson was one of the better rookies in Division Two this past indoor track season.

Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State)

Unlike Alderson, the resume of Lieke Hoogsteen is a bit more one-dimensional. That, however, isn't an issue when you realize that this Adams State freshman posted a time of 2:09 for 800 meters earlier this winter. She was fairly consistent in that distance throughout the season and even finished 9th overall on the national stage, sitting, just one spot out from making the 800 meter finals.

Lisa Redlinger (Academy of Art)

With two top-45 marks, nationally, in both the 3k and the 5k this winter, Lisa Redlinger proved to be one of the better rookies on the west coast. The Academy of Art of frosh was fairly consistent throughout the last few months and should venture into the spring with some solid momentum.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this winter. Prior seasons are used as a very loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Does not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of NCAA competition.

Nominees: Dillan Haviland (Northwood), Cole Benoit (Mississippi College), Dylan Burrows (Oklahoma Christian), Luke Stuckey (Nebraska-Kearney), Kewani Campbell (Lincoln (MO)), Jordan Foster (Findlay), Elias Bergman (Grand Valley State)

Dillan Haviland (Northwood)

Dillan Haviland entered the national stage after posting impressive times and showcasing excellent consistency in the mile throughout the winter months. The Northwood sophomore took his mile PR from 4:06 to 4:03 and developed as a true competitor in the event as far as tactics and reliability. In one year, he went from being part of the 12th place DMR team to 4th place in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships. His development as an athlete and his overall success this season give him a strong argument to win this award. 

Cole Benoit (Mississippi College)

Cole Benoit placed a modest 21st place in the 1500 meters at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, but he improved immensely over the course of the past year. And last weekend, he placed 12th in the 3k and 6th in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Mississippi College talent took his 3k PR from 8:07 to 7:59 and a new level of firepower was evident in his performances. His improvement and consistency throughout the season, along with some solid races at the indoor national meet, make him an ideal candidate for this award. 

Dylan Burrows (Oklahoma Christian)

Dylan Burrows placed 5th in the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships which was a relatively surprising performance and a huge jump from his 21st place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Oklahoma Christian ace matched his 800 meter PR of 1:49 from last season, but his real improvement came from his consistency and ability to compete on the national stage. Burrows improved his race tactics which allowed his middle distance talent to come to fully shine and earn him All-American honors, as well as a nomination for our "Most Improved" award. 

Luke Stuckey (Nebraska-Kearney)

In his first national meet appearance, Luke Stuckey pulled off a bronze medal result in the mile and an 8th place finish in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, he set a new mile PR of 4:04, lowering it from 4:10. In the 3000 meters, Stuckey shaved 20 seconds off of his previous PR, going from 8:42 to 8:22. The Nebraska-Kearney ace lowered nearly all of his times and was extremely successful in his race execution at the indoor national meet. That drastic improvement makes him an easy nominee for this award.

Kewani Campbell (Lincoln (MO))

Kewani Campbell isn’t a stranger to the national stage, but his emergence as a successful 800 meter runner is. The strength-based talent placed 8th in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and has been a member of Lincoln’s successful 4x400 meter relays in years past. This season, Campbell moved up in distance and placed 8th in the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He was incredibly consistent throughout the season and ran a PR of 1:50 in the event. His newfound success in the 800 meters makes him a strong candidate for this award. 

Jordan Foster (Findlay)

Jordan Foster is a nominee for this award due to his improvement and success in the mile. The Findlay ace placed 11th in the event at the NCAA Indoor Championships in a time of 4:09. Over the course of the season, Foster lowered his PR’s significantly, going from 4:20 to 4:04 in the mile and a more modest jump of 8:27 to 8:20 in the 3000 meters. Foster’s emergence onto the national stage, improved times and surprising performance at the indoor national meet give him a solid argument to win this award. 

Elias Bergman (Grand Valley State)

Elias Bergman focused on the mile for the first time this season and it ended up paying off. The Laker distance talent placed 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a mile time of 4:09. Earlier in the season, he ran his mile PR of 4:05 and also lowered his PR in the 3000 meters from 8:37 to 8:27. Bergman’s quick development as a successful miler and improvement in the 3k earned him a nomination for our "Most Improved" award.

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this winter. Prior seasons are used as a very loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Does not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of NCAA competition.

Nominees: Marissa Insinna (Dallas Baptist), Josii Johnson (Westminster (Utah)), Lauren Buckner (Saginaw Valley State), Meg Scheske (Hillsdale), Katherine Marsh (Adelphi), Isabel Marsh (Adelphi), Luisarys Toledo (NW Missouri), Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State), Vanessa Aniteye (Seattle Pacific)

Marissa Insinna (Dallas Baptist)

Marissa Insinna was put on our radar after her 44th place finish at the NCAA XC Championships this past fall. She then carried her momentum onto the track, taking her 3k PR down from 9:53 to 9:32 and her mile PR from 4:58 to 4:50. She also ran her first indoor 5k in a time of 16:33 to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships where she placed 18th. While she does not have an All-American-caliber resume (yet), her incredible improvement this season deserves major recognition and it puts her in the running for this award. 

Josii Johnson (Westminster (UT))

Josii Johnson placed 19th in the 800 meters at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships and had a PR of 2:11 in the event. But this season, she dropped her PR to 2:09 and finished 6th in the 800 meters and 11th in the DMR, both at the indoor national meet. While she only PR’d by two seconds (which is still difficult to do in the 800 meters), Johnson’s biggest improvement came in her consistency and ability to compete on the national stage. Her confidence and growth as a competitor puts her in contention for our "Most Improved" award. 

Lauren Buckner (Saginaw Valley State)

Lauren Buckner managed to qualify for the indoor national meet in the mile and the DMR where she placed 15th and 7th, respectfully. While not particularly flashy results, those finishes look more impressive when you consider that she dropped her mile PR from 5:03 to 4:50 in the span of a year. This 13-second improvement and emergence onto the national stage makes it easy to see why Buckner is listed among these nominees.

Meg Scheske (Hillsdale)

Meg Scheske was one of the more surprising finalists in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Championships where she placed 9th overall (in both the mile and the DMR). Over the course of the year, Scheske took her mile PR from 5:03 to 4:48 and her 3k PR from 10:10 to 9:48. While she placed 16th in the 3k steeplechase at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships, her 9th place finish in the mile and improved marks across multiple distances highlight her immense progress this season. 

Katherine Marsh (Adelphi)

Prior to this season Katherine Marsh had personal bests of 2:14 in the 800 meters and 4:54 in the mile. She now boasts marks of 2:08 and 4:54, respectfully, on top of her 10th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 800 meters. Marsh’s emergence onto the national stage and rapid progression in the middle distances, specifically over the half-mile event, is one of the biggest time-based jumps you'll see amongst these nominees.

Isabel Marsh (Adelphi)

Isabel Marsh, just like her sister, is also a nominee for our "Most Improved" award due to her impressive development in the middle distance events and success on the national stage. Marsh took her 800 meter PR from 2:14 to 2:08 over the course of the year and qualified for the indoor national meet in the event. She managed to qualify for finals and placed 7th overall. Going from not qualifying for the national meet to an All-American honor in the 800 meters is no easy feat and it gives Marsh a strong argument to win this award. 

Luisarys Toledo (NW Missouri)

While Luisarys Toledo has a sprinting and heptathlon background, she emerged as an upper-tier middle distance runner this season. She placed a modest 14th in the 400 meters at last year’s NCAA Indoor Championships, but she improved all the way to a shocking 4th place finish in the 800 meters this year. She lowered her PR from 2:23 to 2:07 in the event, which is a jaw dropping improvement for four laps around the indoor oval. Her massive drop in time and All-American award potentially makes her favored to win this award.

Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State) 

Natalie Graber has been on the national stage in cross country and had some notable success on the track -- but she made a huge leap in fitness this season which deserves recognition. Her PRs went from 16:51 to 16:32 in the 5k, 9:43 to 9:09 in the 3k and 4:53 to 4:39 (DMR split) in the mile. In addition to setting massive PRs, Graber added a gold medal and a collegiate record in the DMR, as well as a bronze medal in the 3k, to her resume at the NCAA Indoor Championships. It's hard to already be nationally competitive and be in contention to win this award, but Graber may do exactly that.

Vanessa Aniteye (Seattle Pacific)

Yes, even national title winners can be nominated for this award. Vanessa Aniteye opted to put more focus on the 800 meters this season rather than her traditional event, the 400 meters. That move turned out to be a brilliant one as Aniteye dropped her indoor 800 meter PR by over six seconds and her overall PR by over four seconds. The Seattle Pacific star went onto dominate the 800 meters at the D2 level, eventually running a massive time of 2:06 for the distance en route to a marquee title victory at the national meet.

*Must have run attached at least once this winter. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising.

Nominees: Hamza Chahid anchors Wingate to DMR national title in thrilling fashion, Miguel Coca wins his first national title in brilliant tactical mile final, Ousamma El Bouchayby destroys his own 800 meter collegiate record and runs 1:46.78 in dominant national title effort, Dillon Powell runs 13:28.46 (5k) at Boston University to lower his own collegiate record by five seconds, Hamza Chahid wins his first individual national title in the 3k

Hamza Chahid anchors Wingate to DMR national title in thrilling fashion

The final leg of the men’s DMR at the indoor national meet lived up to the hype that we thought we may see based off of the seed times. After a few laps on the anchor leg, Hamza Chahid of Wingate took over the lead and began to pull away from the rest of the field. And despite a pair incredible last-ditch efforts from Ryan Riddle and Reece Smith to catch the Bulldogs, it was Chahid’s ability to hold off some of the best milers in that DMR field (en route to NCAA gold) that ultimately gives him this nomination.

Miguel Coca wins his first national title in brilliant tactical mile final

Going into the NCAA Indoor Championships, there were still questions about Miguel Coca’s ability to win a national title in the mile since many of his fastest times in the mile did receive generous conversions. Though Coca still had about three other men with him over the last 600 meters, he was the one to have just enough left in the tank to overtake his three opponents and win his first national title in the event. There are definitely no more doubts about his turnover and ability to win in tactical situations. 

Ousamma El Bouchayby breaks own D2 record & runs 1:46.78 (800) en route to NCAA gold

Most of us at The Stride Report had not heard of this Angelo State star until the last weekend of February where Bouchayby ran a Division Two record in 800 meters. However, because of his inexperience and sudden improvement, there were still questions about how he would perform at the national meet. Of course, Bouchayby easily qualified out of his 800 meter prelim by running aggressively from the front and then did the exact same thing in the final. His way of racing led him to a national title, beating two-time national champion Wes Ferguson in the process and improving on his own Division Two record. 

Dillon Powell runs 13:28.46 (5k) at Boston U. to lower his own D2 record by five seconds

To be honest, seeing the name "Dillon Powell" and the word "record" in the same sentence has become less and less surprising over the last year. However, it still does not belittle what Powell was able to accomplish this winter. Running another record, even if it was his own, is still an impressive feat, especially when the 5k record was already so incredibly fast. It seems Powell is improving with each season, making his Division Two records that much harder to break. All in all, there really is not a whole lot to say here except that Powell is becoming one of the best distance runners that Division Two has ever seen. 

Hamza Chahid wins his first individual national title in the 3k

Hamza Chahid definitely came in as one of the national title favorites in the 3k, but there were still some questions on how he would perform in his first national meet and after his impressive leg on the DMR. But Chahid made his double look easy with one of the best kicks that we have seen this winter. With one lap to go, five guys were battling for gold, but Chahid poured on the speed and easily won the 3k title, splitting 27.28 over the last 200 meters, a full two seconds faster than the next-best finisher.

*Must have run attached at least once this winter. Multiple races over the span of a certain timeframe do not count as a lone "performance". However, performances that are amplified by the results of other meets/individuals with appropriate context are included. TSR writers can vote for the performance that they believe is either the most impressive, the most entertaining or the most surprising.

Nominees: Stephanie Cotter wins her third-straight national title in the mile, Lindsay Cunningham runs 15:41 (5k) in record-setting national title run, Vanessa Aniteye runs 2:06.84 to win the 800 meter national title while setting her fourth personal best of the season, Stephanie Cotter sets the 3k collegiate record running 9:06.03 en route to the national title, Natalie Graber's 4:39 anchor split gives Grand Valley State women the DMR national title and D2 record

Stephanie Cotter wins her third-straight national title in the mile

To win three titles in a row in any division at the collegiate level is incredible...but to also do it in the always-tactical mile points to Stephanie Cotter's ability to race well in a championship setting. The Adams State star was able to take control of the race and let it turn into a slower-paced affair where she could easily come away with the title. Cotter then split 60 seconds for the last 400 meters, putting distance between her and the rest of the field before (once again) coming away with the national title.

Lindsay Cunningham runs 15:41 (5k) in record-setting national title run

To lap almost an entire field in any race is incredible...but to do it on the national stage is almost otherworldly. However, that is exactly what Lindsay Cunningham did in the 5k as she lapped the whole field other than 2nd and 3rd place. In the process, she came away with a Division Two record in the 5k, a national title and defeated the previous record holder, Brianna Robles. What an effort from this Winona State star.

Vanessa Aniteye runs 2:06.84 to win the 800 meter national title & earn fourth PR of season

Here at TSR, we really admire consistency as well as those who have had experience when it comes to championship racing. Vanessa Aniteye definitely had consistency throughout the winter months, but her half-mile experience was definitely lacking going into the indoor national meet. Nevertheless, Aniteye competed with the composure of a veteran and went on to beat the rest of the women's 800 meter field en route to her first national title in the event and a 2:06 PR.

Stephanie Cotter sets the 3k collegiate record, running 9:06.03 en route to national title

What was impressive about this 3k performance was that Stephanie Cotter ran this record after already running in the mile preliminaries, the DMR and the mile final over the span of two days. Many athletes do this triple, but not many succeed as well as Cotter did. She also battled her teammate Brianna Robles for the national title and was still able to come away with the win, making her record that much more special. 

Natalie Graber's 4:39 anchor split gives Grand Valley State the DMR national title & D2 record

We knew that the women's DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships would be competitive between Adams State and Grand Valley State, but we had no idea that it was going to be this thrilling of a battle. After the Grizzlies and the Lakers battled through the first three legs, the all-important anchor legs got involved. Ultimately, it was Natalie Graber for Grand Valley State who allowed her relay to not only win the national title, but come away with a Division Two record as well. She would pull away from Adam State’s anchor of Ava O’Connor, finishing four seconds ahead, coming away with an incredibly impressive victory over the Grizzlies with a 4:39 split.

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees.

 Nominees: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Pol Domenech (Wingate), Damon Martin (Adams State), Matthew Reneker (Mississippi College), Mark Misch (UC-Colorado Springs)

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Chris Siemers always does a phenomenal job coaching his athletes and this year was no different. After winning the national title in cross country, Siemers helped Dillon Powell to another Division Two record in the 5k, as well as Powell’s first indoor national title. He also helped Loic Scomparin to a near-Division Two record in the 3k. Finally, Siemers coached Luke Julian to a runner-up placement in the mile. On top of that, there was still plenty of depth on this roster as Siemers came away with three men at four-minutes or better in the mile (converted), two men at 8:05 or better in the 3k and three men at 14:10 or better in the 5k.

Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Wingate is a team that has slowly entered the highest tier of the Division Two distance realm, but is now a full force to be reckoned with, pointing to the strong coaching of Pol Domenech. Wingate had an incredible showing at the indoor national meet as the Bulldogs won the DMR national title and Hamza Chahid came away with the 3k national title. On top of that star power, Domenech also developed incredible depth similar to that of Colorado Mines. He had four men at 14:10 or better in the 5k, five men at 8:10 or better in the 3k and two men at 4:05 or better in the mile. Wingate was not a distance powerhouse a few years ago, but based on how they have performed this year, Domenech is doing everything right.

Damon Martin (Adams State)

Damon Martin had an incredibly successful showing at the indoor national meet this winter where his men's distance squad scored 41 out of the 42 points that Adams State earned at the indoor national meet. Their runner-up team finish was highlighted by Awet Beraki finishing 2nd in the 5k as well as a national title (mile) and runner-up finish (3k) from Miguel Coca. Martin’s distance squad also scored plenty of their points from a slew of top-eight All-American finishes. In terms of firepower, depth and versatility among his athletes, Damon Martin has a very good argument to win this award.

Matthew Reneker (Mississippi College)

Matthew Reneker has helped many of his athletes earn national provisional marks in a multitude of distance events. On top of that, he also brought many athletes to the indoor national meet, including Hunter Kurz in the mile and the DMR, Cole Benoit in the DMR and the 3k and Jan Lukas Becker in the 3k and the 5k. It would be easy to think that Jan Lukas Becker was the main highlight of this team, but Reneker created a far more diverse team that had numerous men emerge as nationally competitive.

Mark Misch (UC-Colorado Springs)

This year Misch led three athletes, plus a DMR, to the indoor national meet and ended with all three of his individual athletes coming away with All-American honors. The most impressive performance definitely came from Jagger Zlotoff, a redshirt freshman. Not only did he qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships in the mile, but he made it out of the prelims and finished in an All-American position in the finals. And then there was Evan Graff who also made it to the mile finals and finished right behind his teammate with an All-American honor of his own. UCCS also had Afewerki Zeru earn another All-American honor in the 3k after coming back from an injury in January. 

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees.

Nominees: Damon Martin (Adams State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), John Hibshman (Winona State)

Damon Martin (Adams State)

It is fair to say that Damon Martin did something incredible by winning the indoor national team title with all of his points coming from the distance events. He had an impressive 12 individual athletes compete the other weekend as well as a DMR team. He also coached Brianna Robles to a Division Two record in the 5k (before it was taken by Cunningham) and he led Stephanie Cotter to a Division Two record in the 3k. Martin ended the national indoor meet with his athletes achieving two individual titles, two individual runner-up finishes and a runner-up finish in the DMR. There really isn’t a more dominant team currently in Division Two and Martin is a big reason for that. 

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Chris Siemers had both Zoe Baker and Molly Maksin qualify for the indoor national meet via the 5k/3k double. Not only that, but he also coached a bunch of newcomers to the national meet. Jenna Ramsay qualified and competed in the 5k and hit a provisional mark in the 3k. Clare Peters hit a provisional mark in the mile and would have qualified, but opted to compete in just the DMR. Mackenzie Duck also qualified for the national meet in the 800 meters, but chose to just contest the DMR. Siemers also saw his athletes hit four more provisional marks within the distance events, seeing huge improvements from all of his athletes. The Colorado Mines women would eventually see All-American finishes from Zoe Baker and their DMR.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

In what seemed like more of a developmental year for Grand Valley State with the loss of some major veterans, Jerry Baltes ended up putting together a very impressive campaign at the indoor national meet. He helped his team to a Division Two record in the DMR and a national title, defeating the favored Adams State Grizzlies. He also saw many of his athletes go through major improvements including Natalie Graber who bettered all of her times by significant margins and thrived on the national stage. Other women such as Taryn Chapko and Klaudia O’Malley both finished as All-Americans in the 800 meters and the mile, respectively. Coach Baltes also led some true freshmen to provisional marks, including Lauren Kiley who also contest the 5k at the indoor national meet. Not too bad for a "developmental" year, huh?

Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)

There were admittedly doubts if Florance Uwajeneza would even qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships this year because of her slow start. However, she quickly proved us wrong and ran massive PRs in both the 3k and the 5k. At the indoor national meet, she eventually came away with a 3rd place finish in the 5k and a 5th place finish in the 3k. Eleonora Curtabbi also ran her PRs at the end of the season, including a Division Two record in the 3k before it was broken again by Stephanie Cotter. Curtabbi would end up placing 3rd in a competitive mile final the other weekend and unfortunately had to drop out of the 3k after what seemed to be some sort of injury. Even so, helping two women post some of the fastest times in D2 history has give Zach Daniel a spot among these nominees.

John Hibshman (Winona State)

It is hard to ignore John Hibshman when he just coached an athlete to a Division Two record in the 5k and a national title. Lindsay Cunningham also finished an incredible 4th place in the 3k and came away with massive PRs from her last performance. We also saw Hibshman develop Kaylee Beyer into a true middle distance threat as she ended up placing 4th in the mile finals at this year’s indoor national meet. It also didn't hurt to see McKenna Taylor run. a sub-10 (3k) conversion this winter.

*Must have run attached this season. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner this season or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines), Zach Kreft (Walsh), Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State), Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney), Miguel Coca (Adams State), Charlie Dannatt (Simon Fraser), Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Ryan Riddle (Missouri Southern)

Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Dillon Powell is at the top of our list of nominees for "Most Valuable Runner" after his impressive season. The Colorado Mines ace won a gold medal in the 5000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships and set a Division Two record of 13:28 in the same event earlier in the season. On top of his domination in the 5k, Powell showed off his range in the mile by running a converted 3:59 mark for the fifth-fastest time of the season. Powell’s consistent talent and record-breaking success give him a strong argument to win this award. 

Zach Kreft (Walsh)

Zach Kreft had an impressive season overall, highlighted by his performances in the 3000 meters and the 5000 meters at indoor national meet. He ran 8:02 (3k) and 14:01 (5k) to place 4th in both races and earn All-American honors. Throughout the season he set three new PRs and was consistently excellent from the mile to the 5k. His times of 4:03 (mile), 7:59 (3k) and 13:51 (5k), combined with his success at the NCAA Indoor Championships, put him in contention for our "Most Valuable Runner" award.

Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State)

Oussama El Bouchayby took the Division Two scene by storm with his success in the 800 meters. He ran the Division Two record of 1:47 in the event and then broke his own record in 1:46 while winning the national title in dominant fashion at the NCAA Indoor Championships. While not a distance event, the speed-based runner also aided Angelo State in a 5th place finish in the 4x400 meter relay. It is hard to argue against El Bouchayby’s success and record-breaking performances in deciding this season’s "Most Valuable Runner". 

Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Wes Ferguson has been a staple name in the middle distance events and he continued that this winter. The Nebraska-Kearney ace was the national runner-up in the 800 meters in a PR of 1:47. He also anchored the Lopes to an 8th place finish in the DMR with a 4:09 split. On top of his performances at the indoor national meet, Ferguson had a consistent season overall. His reliability, continued progression and silver medal national meet result make him a strong candidate for this award. 

Miguel Coca (Adams State)

Miguel Coca had an eventful NCAA Indoor Championship, taking home gold in the mile and silver in the 3000 meters. Coca’s firepower and success at the indoor national meet were impressive, but he also had a solid season leading up to that finale. Coca ran a converted 3:56 mile tie and posted a 3k PR of 7:52 earlier in the season, showing that he can execute in championship-style races and also run fast times. With a gold and silver medal, as well as elite D2 marks, Coca could absolutely win this award.

Charlie Dannatt (Simon Fraser)

Charlie Dannatt had an unfortunate end to his indoor track season by getting sick and not being able to race at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Even so, he was still able to put together an impressive season. The Simon Fraser ace set new PRs of 3:58 in the mile and 7:58 in the 3000 meters. He also won two titles at the GNAC Indoor Championships. He was a title favorite in the mile and a contender in the 3000 meters, as well as the usual anchor leg of the DMR, so missing out on the indoor national meet was especially brutal. Regardless, Dannatt’s level of talent and consistent excellence still earn him a nomination for our "Most Valuable Runner" award. 

Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Hamza Chahid has been phenomenal this year and finished his indoor track season with two gold medals. Chahid won the DMR and the 3000 meters to pull off the only double distance victories of the national meet. The Wingate ace anchored the Bulldogs to a win in the DMR with a 4:00 mile split and then won an exciting 3k race in 8:00. With his two gold medals and impressive PRs this season, it's easy to see how Chahid could win this award.

Ryan Riddle (Missouri Southern)

Ryan Riddle earned his nomination for "Most Valuable Runner" with his impressive PRs and success at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Missouri Southern veteran aided the Lions in their bronze medal DMR performance with an astonishing 3:58 anchor split. He then continued his momentum into the 3000 meters and placed 6th in a time of 8:04. Earlier in the season, Riddle ran very strong times of 3:59 in the mile and 7:55 in the 3k. That combination overall improvement, consistency and success at the indoor national meet earned him a nomination for this award.

*Must have run attached this season. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner this season or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State), Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State), Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State), Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M), Brianna Robles (Adams State), Vanessa Aniteye (Seattle Pacific), Cailee Peterson (Minnesota-Duluth), Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M). 

Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Stephanie Cotter is a nominee for our "Most Valuable Runner" award after her excellence at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Irish star aided the Adams State Grizzlies in their silver medal DMR run with a 3:26 split on the lead leg. She also won the mile national title with a lethal kick in the last two laps and set a new Division Two record of 9:06 to bring home gold in the 3000 meters. With two gold medals, a silver medal and a collegiate record, it’s hard to argue against Cotter being the winner of this award.

Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

In arguably one of the best races of the NCAA Indoor Championships, Lindsay Cunningham ran a new Division Two record of 15:41 for 5000 meters. On top of that, the Warrior ace doubled back in the 3000 meters to place 4th in a new PR of 9:10. While Cunningham only won one national title (compared to Cotter’s two gold medals), she did set a new 5000 meter collegiate record and arguably had a more “complete” season. The consistency and volume of Cunningham’s excellence throughout thee winter months gives her an incredibly solid argument to win our "Most Valuable Runner" award. 

Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State)

Natalie Graber didn’t only deliver at the indoor national meet, she surpassed all expectations. Last weekend, the Laker ace ran a 4:39 split to bring home DMR gold and new a Division Two record in the event. She then ran a huge 3k PR of 9:09 to win bronze. Graber’s consistency and versatility, combined with her progression and monumental success this winter, gives her a well-deserved nomination for this award.

Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M)

Eleonora Curtabbi quickly became one of the best mile/3k runners not only in the country this season, but all-time for Division Two. Curtabbi ran 4:40 in the mile and 9:08 in the 3000 meters which was the Division Two record at the time. Despite the unfortunate end to her season, Curtabbi still ran the fastest open mile time of the year, set a collegiate record and placed 3rd in the mile at the indoor national meet. These performances give us a plethora of reasons to nominate her for this award. 

Brianna Robles (Adams State)

The Grizzly ace ran converted times of 4:43 in the mile and 9:13 in the 3000 meters before setting a new Division Two record (at the time) of 15:47 in the 5000 meters this season. Brianna Robles ended up as the national runner-up in both the 3k and the 5k at the NCAA indoor Championships. And while that is impressive in and of itself, the way she competed adds to the argument for her nomination. Her continued excellence, tenacity and versatility as an endurance runner put her in the running for this award. 

Vanessa Aniteye (Seattle Pacific)

Vanessa Aniteye was the undeniable queen of the 800 meters this season. Her consistency and progression, along with her national title in the event, earn her a nomination for this award. Her development is any middle distance coach’s dream, but it becomes all the more impressive when you consider the fact this was her first year seriously pursuing the 800 meters. Aniteye is an incredibly talented athlete and her national title and 800 meter PR of 2:06 speaks for itself. 

Cailee Peterson (Minnesota-Duluth)

At the NCAA Indoor Championships the Minnesota-Duluth ace unleashed a lethal kick in the last lap of the mile, taking her from 4th place to 2nd place in a sprint to the line. Cailee Peterson had an extremely consistent season and finished on a high note with a silver medal. Her prowess and success in the mile was far greater than some people realize.

Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M)

Florance Uwajeneza ended her season with a bronze medal and a massive PR of 16:06 in the 5000 meters and a 5th place finish in the 3000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Uwajeneza’s ability to peak for the postseason, as well as her successful 3k/5k double on the national stage, put her in the running for this award.

Men

John: Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Grace: Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Marissa: Tyler Nord (Western Colorado)

Garrett: Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Women

John: Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

Grace: Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

Marissa: Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

Garrett: Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

Men

John: Dillan Haviland (Northwood)

Grace: Luke Stuckey (Nebraska-Kearney)

Marissa: Luke Stuckey (Nebraska-Kearney)

Garrett: Jordan Foster (Findlay)

Women

John: Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State)

Grace: Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State)

Marissa: Luisarys Toledo (NW Missouri)

Garrett: Luisarys Toledo (NW Missouri)

*Tie broken via TSR contributor Maura Beattie

Men

John: El Bouchayby breaks own NCAA record in 1:46.78 (800) en route to national title

Grace: El Bouchayby breaks own NCAA record in 1:46.78 (800) en route to national title

Marissa: El Bouchayby breaks own NCAA record in 1:46.78 (800) en route to national title

Garrett: El Bouchayby breaks own NCAA record in 1:46.78 (800) en route to national title

Women

John: Lindsay Cunningham runs 15:41 (5k) in record-setting national title run

Grace: Lindsay Cunningham runs 15:41 (5k) in record-setting national title run

Marissa: Lindsay Cunningham runs 15:41 (5k) in record-setting national title run

Garrett: Cotter sets the 3k collegiate record, running 9:06.03 en route to national title

Men

John: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Grace: Pol Domenech (Wingate)

Marissa: Mark Misch (UC-Colorado Springs)

Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)

*Tie broken via TSR contributor Maura Beattie

Women

John: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Grace: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Marissa: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Men

John: Ousamma El Bouchayby (Angelo State)

Grace: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Marissa: Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

Garrett: Miguel Coca (Adams State)

*Tie broken via TSR contributor Maura Beattie

Women

John: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

Grace: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

Marissa: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)

Garrett: Stephanie Cotter (Adams State)