TSR Collaboration
Mar 2026 min
Written by Grace McLaughlin, Marissa Kuik & Gavin Struve, votes via TSR D2 staff
Additional edits & commentary by Gavin Struve & Garrett Zatlin
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, all for the Division Two level. These awards are a way to highlight the accomplishments of certain individuals from the entirety of the 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).
Let's begin...
*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: George Couttie (Charleston (WV)), Josphat Meli (Harding), Samuel Idiens (Charleston (WV)), Caleb Sultan (Cedarville), Colton Thress (Ashland), Nik Shilling (Davenport)
George Couttie (Charleston (WV))
Running fast enough times to qualify for the indoor national meet as a freshman is impressive enough, but to finish as an All-American is even more incredible. George Couttie came away with an 8th-place finish in the mile two weekends ago while also running the anchor leg on the Golden Eagles’ DMR team. On top of a great indoor national meet performance, Couttie ran PRs of 1:50 (half-mile) and an insanely fast 4:01 (mile).
Josphat Meli (Harding)
On the flip side of George Couttie, we have Josphat Meli, who only ran the 3k and the 5k for his individual events this season. Of course, Meli also ran incredibly fast, posting PRs of 14:00 (5k) and 8:00 (3k). Those times qualified him for the indoor national meet where he finished a respectable 9th place for the 5000 meters and 10th place for the 3000 meters. Though he may not have made it to the podium, just qualifying and finishing so close to the top-eight in a tough weekend double shows how impressive Meli was throughout his rookie season.
Samuel Idiens (Charleston (WV))
Even if he was overshadowed by his classmate, George Couttie, Samuel Idiens put together a pretty impressive resume in his first indoor track campaign. His times of 4:08 (mile), 8:22 (3k) and 14:42 (5k) put him toward the upper-echelon of Division Two distance runners. He also gained valuable experience on the national stage, running the 800-meter leg for the Golden Eagles' DMR team. Don't be surprised if this true freshman sneaks into the outdoor national meet as an individual this spring.
Caleb Sultan (Cedarville)
Seemingly more of a 400/800-meter guy, Caleb Sultan proved that he has the turnover to match some of the best in Division Two. With PRs of 49 seconds in the 400 meters and an even better 1:51 mark for the half-mile distance, Sultan did not let his rookie status get the best of him this winter. While he didn't qualify in any individual events at the national meet, he played an important role on the Yellowjackets’ DMR team which ended up on the podium with a 7th-place finish and he now finds himself in a strong developmental program.
Colton Thress (Ashland)
Colton Thress is another name to look out for over the half-mile distance in the next few seasons. He moved his 800-meter time all the way down to 1:50 over the course of the season and has enviable turnover with a PR of 49 seconds for 400 meters. Thress' improvement brought him close to qualifying for the indoor national meet and he has nowhere to go but up.
Nik Shilling (Davenport)
At one point, Nik Shilling almost appeared to be a shoo-in for the indoor national meet when he ran a PR of 1:51.08 in his first 800-meter race at the collegiate level. Alas, he didn't improve upon that mark over the next month of competition and was left on the outside-looking-in. Perhaps more valuably, though, he ran 1:51 in all three of his half-mile efforts this season, a series of results which show high-level consistency that's hard to find in someone so new to the collegiate scene.
*Athletes who hold freshman status stemming from any type of eligibility extension (not including missions) are not considered for this award. International freshmen are included amongst these nominees unless we have reason to believe that they do not meet our criteria. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Allie Arnsman (Grand Valley State), Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M), Lesli Salas (Dallas Baptist), Hannah Gibson (Pittsburg State), Annie Wild (Stanislaus State), Jess Chisar (Alaska Anchorage), Charis Robinson (Nebraska-Kearney)
Allie Arnsman (Grand Valley State)
After earning All-American honors on the grass, Allie Arnsman recorded several impressive results throughout this past indoor track season with PRs of 4:56 (mile), 9:51 (3k) and 16:41 (5k). The latter performance earned Arnsman a 4th-place finish at the quietly competitive GLIAC Indoor Championships. While Arnsman didn’t quite replicate the success that she found on the grass in the fall, she should be able to soon with plenty of eligibility ahead at Grand Valley State.
Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
It is only natural that our “Best Freshman” winner from the cross country season is also a nominee for the same award for the indoor track season. Sarah Koomson finished 6th at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships which was extremely impressive for a freshman. The Buffalo star didn’t quite match that same level of elite success on the indoor oval, but her 6th-place finish over 3000 meters and 12th-place finish for 5000 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships were comfortably the best results by a true freshman in either event. She peaked well too, finishing her season with solid PRs of 9:27 (3k) and 16:32 (5k) at the indoor national meet. Based on her current accolades and expected trajectory, Koomson may even exceed what her veteran teammates (Eleonora Curtabbi and Florance Uwajeneza) have accomplished while at West Texas A&M.
Lesli Salas (Dallas Baptist)
Lesli Salas entered our radar during the cross country season and continued to be solid during this indoor track season. The Dallas Baptist rookie ran PRs of 4:58 (mile) and 9:37 (3k) this season, placed 4th in the 3k at the LSC Indoor Championships and aided Dallas Baptist to a runner-up finish in the DMR in that setting. Salas may not have qualified to compete on the grand stage yet, but she seems to be knocking on that door.
Hannah Gibson (Pittsburg State)
Hannah Gibson ran PRs of 4:58 (mile), 9:52 (3k) and 17:21 (5k) this winter and consistently progressed throughout the season. The Pittsburg State rookie has both solid momentum and immense potential for growth, a valuable combo. Her 142nd-place finish at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships wasn’t particularly flashy, but it was solid for a first-year athlete and it created the upwards trajectory that Gibson is following now.
Annie Wild (Stanislaus State)
Stanislaus State is known for producing top-flight endurance runners, but Annie Wild is an outlier with talent lying in the middle distance events. The Warrior rookie ran some very solid times of 2:12 (800), 4:52 (mile) and 10:10 (3k) this season while displaying the kind of range and potency that instantly made her a top name in the CCAA.
Jess Chisar (Alaska Anchorage)
Jess Chisar is a purely speed-based 800-meter runner and her PR of 2:11 in the event is stellar for this point in her development. Chisar competes in the 200 meters through the 800 meters, but the half-mile (while appearing to reside toward the upper limit of her range) appears to be her strong suit. The Seawolf freshman ran 2:13, 2:12, 2:12 and 2:11 in the event this season. That kind of consistency, and her overall level of speed and turnover, makes Chisar a candidate to be a national mainstay in this event for years to come.
Charis Robinson (Nebraska-Kearney)
One of the more underrated rookies of the indoor track season, Charis Robinson found success in the middle distance events this past winter. However, her best results didn't come until February where she seemingly peaked, producing impressive personal bests of 2:12 (800) and 4:57 (mile). A promising lead-up to the postseason and a busy weekend at the MIAA Indoor Championships left us optimistic about what the Nebraska-Kearney freshman could do in the spring.
*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 loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of collegiate competition. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Daylen Madison (Ashland), Dominic Suliman (Saginaw Valley State), Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate), Titouan Le Grix (Wingate), Kevin McDermott (Western Washington), Alberto Campa (Colorado Mines)
Daylen Madison (Ashland)
Beautiful progression allowed Daylen Madison to end his indoor track season with his first All-American honor. He ran seasonal bests in five consecutive 800-meter races heading into the indoor national meet. That streak was snapped there where he ran 1:50 in the prelims before an eyebrow-raising 1:49 effort in the final that neared his PR and placed him 6th overall.
Dominic Suliman (Saginaw Valley State)
Dominic Suliman attempted one of the more ambitious doubles (the 800 meters and the mile) at the indoor national meet, but that's not necessarily why he's here. That endeavor brought him mixed results — a second-to-last-place finish over 800 meters and a 6th-place result in a slow-developing mile final. That he was able to qualify for the national meet in both events and perform capably was impressive for an underclassman who had yet to sniff an All-American finish entering this winter.
Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)
After stamping himself as a breakout star who was integral to Wingate's cross country national team title in November, Soheil Boufrizi used the past few months to raise his game even further and solidify himself as one of the best distance runners in the country. The Bulldog talent ran PRs in the mile, the 3k and the 5k in his first three races of the season, putting himself in position to qualify for the postseason in all three events. He chose to put all of his eggs in the 3k basket and came through on the national stage, producing a 5th-place result behind four all-time superstars while finishing a tenth of a second off of his 8:00 PR.
Titouan Le Grix (Wingate)
Titouan Le Grix matched his above-listed Wingate teammate's national meet finish, landing 5th in the mile finals. Le Grix also ran PRs in the mile, the 3k and the 5k this winter (many by large margins), and the tactical mile race seemed to play into his strengths for his second-ever All-American finish in as many races on the national stage this academic year. How's that for a late-career renaissance for this soon-to-be senior?
Kevin McDermott (Western Washington)
For a virtual reflection of Soheil Boufrizi's regular season, look at Kevin McDermott's resume. The Viking star also put himself in position to race any combination of the mile, the 3k and the 5k at the indoor national meet. Sure, McDermott didn't run quite as well on the national stage, but he also started the indoor track season from a comparatively lower point than Boufrizi and appears to be closing in on his first All-American finish soon.
Alberto Campa (Colorado Mines)
Sure, Alberto Campa was talented prior to this past indoor track season, but he was not at all the same kind of national-caliber threat last winter or last spring that he was in the most recent months. Despite a few encouraging steps forward in prior seasons -- advancing to the outdoor national meet and placing 13th at the Lewis Crossover -- we didn't expect Campa to run a fantastic 4:05 mile PR at sea level and earn a mile conversion of 4:00! While a 9th place finish in the mile finals of the national meet didn't yield an All-American honor, no one can deny that Campa was among the very best.
*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 loose comparison tool when attempting to list nominees. Nominees for this award do not include true freshmen or athletes who were in their first season (not necessarily of indoor track) of collegiate competition. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Kate Dawson (Pittsburg State), Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH)), Margaux Basart (Colorado Mines), MaKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)
Kate Dawson (Pittsburg State)
Watching Kate Dawson race on the national stage this month, you'd hardly know it was her first time reaching that level on the oval. She ran a PR in the half-mile prelims to earn one of the last qualifying spots for the finals and upon getting there, she ran another 2:09 PR for a 5th-place finish. Dawson entered the winter as someone who had enjoyed as much success in the mile and on the cross country course, but she'll enter the spring as an All-American favorite in the 800 meters. And given that she finished 4th in the event at the MIAA Indoor Championships less than a month ago, one could also argue that Dawson was the most improved D2 runner from February to March.
Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
Alaysia Brooks is a recurring nominee in these EOS awards. And truthfully, we don't need to offer much more than her half-mile NCAA Championship performances to make her case. Brooks reached the national stage in both the winter and spring months of 2023, but didn't reach the finals. This season? She won her prelim with ease before finishing as the 800-meter national champion in convincing fashion.
Margaux Basart (Colorado Mines)
After finishing the 2023 cross country season with a PR and a solid 50th-place finish in her first national meet appearance, Margaux Basart seemingly carried that momentum into the indoor track season following a couple of months off from racing. The burgeoning Oredigger star ran a pair of PRs and very nearly ran another in her fourth 3k race of the season when she finished 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 9:29.
MaKenna Thurston (Minnesota State)
You could possibly make an argument that MaKenna Thurston reached greater heights last academic year than she did in the 2024 indoor track season. However, you can't dispute that she just capped, by far, the most complete campaign of her lengthy NCAA career. After a disappointing end to her cross country season (finishing 81st at the 2023 NCAA XC Championships compared to a surprise 17th-place result the year before), the Maverick star produced four-straight mile wins and ended her season with a significant 4:46 PR that was necessary to obtain her first All-American finish on the track.
Shannon King (Colorado Christian)
It's hard to dislike Shannon King, a Colorado Christian veteran who went from "good" to "great" this past winter. Prior to the 2024 indoor track season, King had only run under 5:00 in the mile once -- that was a 4:55 effort at Grand Valley State in 2023. But not only did King outright beat that PR at the RMAC Indoor Championships with a 4:54 mark, but she also earned a 4:47 conversion! And if you thought that was just a fluke, King made sure to validate her recent personal best with a excellent 4:48 mile effort on the national stage.
*Must have run attached at least once this winter and must have been attached during the race in question. 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 impactful, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Wes Ferguson Caps Undefeated Half-Mile Campaign with his Fourth NCAATitle, Caleb Futter Upsets Miguel Coca for a National Title in a Tactical Mile Final, Miguel Coca Smashes D2 3k Record with a 7:44 at Boston U., Romain Legendre Runs a D2 5k Record of 13:24 in his First Race of the Season, Hamza Chahid Defeats Star-Studded 5k Field for his Second National Title, Simon Kelati Outkicks Coca for a Surprise 3k National Title
Wes Ferguson Caps Undefeated Half-Mile Campaign with His Fourth NCAA Title
The inevitability of Wes Ferguson shouldn't take away from what he just achieved in his final collegiate indoor track campaign. The time (1:48.13) nor his margin of victory by which he won weren't elite, but perhaps we should look at this as a "lifetime achievement" award and the performance as a precursor for what Ferguson could do over the next few months on the outdoor oval.
Caleb Futter Upsets Miguel Coca for NCAA Title in Tactical Mile Final
Caleb Futter's progression into a national title contender in the mile was one of the more welcomed developments of this season. Even after running a fantastic 3:58 PR in his first go at the mile distance this season, he wasn't viewed as the title favorite in that event when going up against defending champion, Miguel Coca. But Futter displayed an ability to win in multiple ways, nabbing his first gold medal by edging out Coca and the rest of the field in an exceedingly tactical mile final.
Miguel Coca Smashes D2 3k Record with a 7:44 PR at Boston U.
Miguel Coca's greatest impact this season may have come in the mile given that he raced that distance once more than the 3k and never missed a beat in either event. But his best singular result was almost certainly in the longer distance where he rode an elite Boston U. field to a 7:44 D2 record, anointing himself as the national title favorite in a second event. Coca was not only fast time-wise during that race, but competitive towards the top of the field as well, losing only to D1 superstar Habtom Samuel and two Under Armour pros.
Romain Legendre Runs D2 5k Record of 13:24 in First Race of Season
The first record broken at the D2 level this winter came from another Adams State runner. In his first collegiate track race, Romain Legendre triumphed over RMAC rival, Loïc Scomparin (and a handful of D1 stars), and lost only to D1 record-holder Nico Young in his heat. That Legendre achieved his 13:24 (5k) mark just a couple of weeks after underwhelming (slightly) at the cross country national meet arguably makes this effort even more impressive.
Hamza Chahid Defeats Star-Studded 5k Field for His Second Individual National Title
Despite entering the winter as our top-ranked long distance runner (TSR #2 behind Wes Ferguson), Hamza Chahid didn't quite run like it at the start of the season. That's not to say that he was bad by any means, but he lost to a couple of elite D2 peers. That hardly mattered by the end of the season as Chahid won his third national title (over a third different distance, including the DMR). He did it against a historically loaded field at an honest pace -- with a 13:51 finishing time -- too.
Simon Kelati Out-kicks Coca for a Surprise 3k National Title
No already-established superstar has progressed more than Simon Kelati in the past year, and there was no better proof of this than his first national title. One day after earning his sixth All-American honor with a bronze medal in the 5k, Kelati out-dueled a 3k field that we'd posit was deeper than any other distance event. He beat four (!) other individual national champions on his way to his first gold medal. Oh, and the new 7:57 (3k) PR that he ran in that race is nothing to sneeze at either.
*Must have run attached at least once this winter and must have been attached during the race in question. 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 impactful, the most entertaining or the most surprising. Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Alaysia Brooks Wins Her First Half-Mile NCAA Title by Nearly a Second and a Half, Gracie Hyde Runs Fastest All-Conditions D2 Women’s Mile Mark Against a D1 Field, Adams State wins DMR NCAA Title by Nearly Five Seconds After Setting D2 Record a Month Earlier, Gracie Hyde Breaks the D2 Women’s 3k Record and Goes sub-9:00, Brianna Robles Beats both Cunningham and Uwajeneza by Over 11 Seconds for NCAA #1 5k Mark at Boston U., Florance Uwajeneza Takes 5k Gold in Upset for First NCAA Title
Alaysia Brooks Wins Her First 800m NCAA Title by Nearly a Second and a Half
In an 800-meter field where the NCAA title was ripe for the taking, Alaysia Brooks convincingly grabbed the reins. She posted the fastest preliminary time by almost three seconds and quickly went to the front of the race in the final, holding a half-second lead through 200 meters that only grew from there. Not only was the effort Brooks' first national title, but it was her first All-American finish. You'd hardly know it given the confidence and poise that she raced with.
Gracie Hyde Runs Fastest All-Conditions D2 Women’s Mile Mark Against a D1 Field
When Gracie Hyde ran the NCAA #1 mile time in her seasonal debut (which doubled as her D2 debut), it wasn't a shock. After all, she was a decent talent for Division One powerhouse Arkansas just last spring. But the second mile race that she finished was something entirely different. Hyde's 4:30 mark was not only the fastest ever for a D2 woman, but it helped her take down a few veritable D1 stars as she procured the outright win.
Gracie Hyde Breaks the D2 Women’s 3k Record, Goes Sub-9:00
Which do you value more: a historic milestone achieved amid a sea of other elite marks? Or a slightly less historic result delivered alongside a win? Your answer determines which of Gracie Hyde's individual D2 record times you find more impressive. In the case of the 3k, she did not win the race, but was competitive with a field of pros and D1 studs, shattering the D2 3000-meter record by not only becoming the first woman at that level to break 9:05, but also breaking 9:00 en route to an 8:58 mark.
Brianna Robles Beats Cunningham & Uwajeneza by Over 11 Seconds for NCAA #1 5k Mark
Brianna Robles was one of several Adams State aces to enjoy strong winter campaigns. And even though she earned silver (5k) and bronze (3k) medals at the indoor national meet, we'd argue that the high point of her season was when she, like Hyde, found herself in the thick of a field of D1 stars at Boston U. and more than held her own for an NCAA #1 mark. No, Robles didn't break the D2 record or even her own personal best in that setting, but she did outrun the defending national champion and soon-to-be national champion. She also ran a time that was over 10 seconds faster than what any other D2 woman produced this season.
Florance Uwajeneza Takes 5k Gold in Upset for First NCAA Title
By the end of the season, Florance Uwajeneza proved to be the top competitor in a 5k picture that was seemingly more open than we foresaw. With Lindsay Cunningham notably absent from the national meet, Uwajeneza narrowly upset Brianna Robles and ran a 16:05 (5k) PR for her first national title (and one of 10 All-American honors). It was the perfect cap to a season that reintroduced her as a D2 superstar after sitting out the fall months.
*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2024 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Multiple coaches from the same team can be nominated together should they oversee & lead different areas of their distance roster (middle vs long). Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Damon Martin (Adams State), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), Pol Domenech (Wingate)
Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)
Grand Valley State is always a program that is among the best of Division Two on the distance side, but the Laker men have taken a bit of a back seat the past couple of seasons. However, this indoor track season, Coach Jerry Baltes did a fantastic job of leading his athletes to a slew of impressive marks and huge improvements. Caleb Futter won a surprise national title in the mile a year after he didn't even reach the finals in that event. Similarly, Scott Spaanstra did not make the 800-meter final last year, but landed on the podium this year. A DMR squad that finished 4th overall was another highlight for a team that finished as the national meet runner-up this season.
Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)
Colorado Mines' high-level consistency is almost a given at this point, but that shouldn't dampen what Coach Chris Siemers has accomplished in Golden, Colorado. The Orediggers seemingly always have names at the front of almost every distance event at the national meet, and that trend continued this winter. Besides Loïc Scomparin finishing as a top-half All-American in both the 3k and the 5k, Colorado Mines had multiple qualifiers in the mile and one who reached the final (Alberto Campa). Further development of the middle distance program will raise the Orediggers' already lofty ceiling on the oval.
Damon Martin (Adams State)
The Adams State men may not have had a single individual national champion in the distance events this season, but that contingent still brought in a ton of points for the team who finished 3rd place overall at the national meet. The Grizzlies were highlighted by Miguel Coca (2nd in both the mile and the 3k), Romain Legendre (2nd in the 5k), David Cardenas (2nd in the 800 meters) and James Dunne (4th in the mile). On top of all those impressive individual performances, the Grizzlies easily won the national title in the DMR, putting some tough finishes in the last couple of seasons on the grass behind them. Not to mention, Coca dropped a D2 3k record and Legendre broke the D2 5k record this winter while the Grizzlies also headlined the mile national leaderboard. For all their success, there have been some doubts about Adams State’s ability to finish well at the national meet, but Coach Damon Martin and his squad silenced most of those uncertainties with this season’s performance. Although, titles from Coca and Legendre, favorites in their respective events, would have seemingly made Martin a lock for this award.
Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)
The slow progression of the Buffaloes of West Texas A&M has been fun to watch, culminating in Coach Zach Daniel’s best distance group that he has ever had at the indoor national meet. With a surprise 4th-place finish by Prince Mcabelo over 800 meters, a couple of 6th-place finishes by William Amponsah in the 3k and the 5k and another surprise finish of 2nd place in the DMR, the Buffaloes definitely showed up in 2024. West Texas A&M had a decent regular season with some solid performances, but nothing really stole the show. However, Daniel did an impressive job of preparing his athletes to peak for the postseason, leading to such top-notch runs and a 4th-place team performance at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Pol Domenech (Wingate)
After winning the cross country national team title, expectations were high for the Bulldogs. And after a somewhat quiet regular season similar to the fall, Wingate once again put on a show at the national meet which gives some indication as to what stretch of the season Coach Pol Domenech effectively prioritizes. Hamza Chahid highlighted the group with a 5k national title and a 4th-place finish in the 3k after a fall right before the finish line. There were some surprise performances as well from Titouan Le Grix (5th in the mile) and Soheil Boufrizi (5th in the 3k). The progression of some of the men mentioned above (see our "Most Improved" section) is a testament to this program's leader.
*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2024 indoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Multiple coaches from the same team can be nominated together should they oversee & lead different areas of their distance roster (middle vs long). Performances past 3/9 are not considered.
Nominees: Damon Martin (Adams State), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)
Damon Martin (Adams State)
We're used to Adams State piling up cross country national titles, but establishing the same dominance on the track is more difficult with so many other events factoring into the scoring. Nonetheless, Coach Damon Martin helped his team to a second-consecutive indoor national team title, doing so on the back of the distance athletes. And it was not just one athlete carrying the team, but a plethora of women contributing across all the distance events. The Grizzlies took up half of the podium in the 5k and almost half of it in the mile. On top of the impressive performances by program veterans like Brianna Robles and Precious Robinson, Adams State had first-time national qualifiers step up like Vienna Lahner, Elena Carey and Tristian Spence. Martin also coached Gracie Hyde to multiple Division Two records and national titles in the mile and the 3k. To have such a fast and deep team speaks to Martin’s recruiting acumen and ability to develop athletes once they're in the program.
Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)
Similar to the 'Buffs men’s team, Coach Zach Daniel did an exceptional job leading the West Texas A&M women to huge improvements and success throughout the season and on the national stage. In their season finale, his athletes went 4-5-6 in the 3k while Florance Uwajeneza won her first national title in the 5k despite not being favored to do so. Daniel's recruiting ability played out clearly this season with freshman Sarak Koomson's fast assimilation to NCAA stardom. The more experienced members of the team have also progressed in a way that mirrors the program's growth.
Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)
Similar to Adams State, the Lakers are another squad that always find a way to the podium in almost all distance events -- and this season was no different. Coach Jerry Baltes has been blessed with a strong group of veteran competitors, such as Klaudia O’Malley and Taryn Chapko, both of whom finished on the podium in their respective events. Baltes also continued to develop some younger talent like Lauren Kiley who improved on last year’s performances and came away with her first All-American finish on the track. Natalie Graber burst onto the Division Two scene last year and even though her national meet showing was not as strong this year, she still ran some of the best times in Division Two from the mile up to the 5k. Allie Arnsman was also a "Best Freshman" nominee, further pointing to Baltes' ability to help young and veteran athletes alike to major improvements.
Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)
Just like with the 'Mines men’s team, Chris Siemers has clearly put an effort into bolstering the middle distance group while still maintaining a solid long distance brigade. That clearly showed this season with Aryelle Wright coming away with her best placement ever in the 800 meters at the national meet, finishing 3rd. Siemers also brought on Riley McGrath by way of conference rival, UCCS. She didn't reach the mile final, but she did run a massive PR of 4:42 (mile) and a school record earlier in the season. The Orediggers' DMR team ran its way to 7th place in a very competitive race on the national stage. On top of that, Siemers continued to develop the distance side with PRs for Margaux Basart, Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge, Holly Moser and Molly Maksin, the latter of whom ran a lifetime best in the 5k to finish 6th overall at the national meet. All of that helped this distance-centric team sneak into the top-10 at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 3/9 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.
Nominees: Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney), Romain Legendre (Adams State), Miguel Coca (Adams State), Simon Kelati (Western Colorado), Caleb Futter (Grand Valley State)
Hamza Chahid (Wingate)
Hamza Chahid's times don't capture the full picture of his talent, but they come close. He finished the indoor track season with marks of 4:01 (mile), 7:47 (3k) and a national title in the 5k at the NCAA Indoor Championships. His postseason success and consistency paired with elite times indicate just how talented the Wingate ace truly is. Chahid has impressive range across a variety of distances, but his aerobic strength and tactical abilities are what set him apart.
Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)
It is only natural that the potential Division Two middle distance GOAT is in the running for our MVR award. Wes Ferguson added another national title to his resume after winning the 800 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 1:48 (which wasn't even his fastest mark in the event this season). Ferguson also ran a PR of 4:03 in the mile this winter, but his fourth gold medal for 800 meters is what makes him one of the most bankable superstars in any distance event in recent memory.
Romain Legendre (Adams State)
Running a D2 record in the 5k is a monumental accomplishment, especially when it came in a blistering mark of 13:24. Romain Legendre’s record-breaking performance was one of the more shocking results of the season and it put his stellar endurance on full display. Legendre went into the NCAA Indoor Championships as the 5000-meter title favorite after that performance, but his runner-up finish in the event was still an impressive result for his debut track campaign as a collegian. His 5k prowess was complemented by a 3:56 altitude-converted mile that put him at NCAA #2 this past winter.
Miguel Coca (Adams State)
Simply put, Miguel Coca was an absolute animal on the indoor oval this winter. The Grizzly ace ran a Division Two record of 7:44 over 3000 meters to go with an impressive PR of 3:56 in the mile. Those two regular season performances would have been enough for him to earn a nomination to our MVR award, but Coca also won a gold and two silver medals at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Coca was the runner-up finisher in the mile and the 3k and helped the Grizzlies' DMR team win the national title. Coca may not have won an individual title this season, but the level of success that he displayed is hard to match.
Simon Kelati (Western Colorado)
The NCAA XC Championship runner-up finisher managed to seamlessly translate his success from the fall to the indoor track. Simon Kelati won the 3000-meter title at the NCAA Indoor Championships in an intense battle to the line and he recorded a 7:57 PR en route to the gold medal. The Mountaineer ace also ran a 5k PR of 13:55 to earn bronze at the indoor national meet and recorded another sub-14:00 (5k) with a 13:58 mark at the Husky Classic. He was so good that we considered him for "Most Improved" despite his preexisting status as a multi-time All-American.
Caleb Futter (Grand Valley State)
In an unorthodox NCAA Championship mile final, Caleb Futter proved best able to change gears as the race ramped up. The longtime Laker wasn’t necessarily a top pick to win the event which made the racing IQ and turnover that he displayed all the more impressive. On top of his gold medal, the Laker veteran aided GVSU’s DMR team to a 4th-place finish and placed 15th in the 3k. Futter also recorded PRs of 1:50 (800), 3:58 (mile) and 8:00 (3k) which showed an uptick in fitness and continued dynamism.
*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 3/9 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.
Nominees: Kaylee Beyer (Winona State), Gracie Hyde (Adams State), Brianna Robles (Adams State), Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH)), Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M)
Kaylee Beyer (Winona State)
The past few years have been pretty successful for Kaylee Beyer, but she was on a whole new level this season and her two silver medals from the NCAA Indoor Championships are a testament to that. The Winona State star was the national meet runner-up in both the mile and the 3k and showed an incredible amount of grit and poise throughout those races. On top of her championship season success, Beyer recorded PRs of 2:49 (1k), 4:38 (mile) and 9:06 (3k) this season, with the latter matching the previous Division Two record in the event. Simply put, Beyer's success this season was wildly impressive.
Gracie Hyde (Adams State)
Three national titles, three all-time records (between the 3000 meters, the DMR and a 4:30 mile on an oversized track) and being the first woman in Division Two history to break the nine-minute barrier over 3000 meters is a lot to accomplish in one season. Of course, Gracie Hyde managed to do it all. The Adams State ace seamlessly transitioned to Division Two and has quickly become an all-time great through just a couple of months. Her triple crown at the NCAA Indoor Championships and impressive marks throughout the season make her a top candidate for our MVR award.
Brianna Robles (Adams State)
Brianna Robles is one of the most reliably successful endurance-centric athletes in recent memory, and that continued into her fourth indoor track campaign. The Grizzly veteran ran sub-16:00 for 5000 meters twice this season to go with a 9:08 (3k) mark. She also finished as the runner-up finisher in the 5k and earned bronze in the 3k at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Robles’ performances throughout the season and postseason hardware are just part of what makes her a top competitor.
Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
All of our other candidates for MVR are distance-focused, making Alaysia Brooks the sole middle distance runner of the bunch. Brooks won the 800 meters by nearly two seconds at the NCAA Indoor Championships and left some experienced veterans in her dust. The Ursuline (OH) star also ran a PR of 2:05 in the preliminary rounds which made her overall performance at the indoor national meet that much more impressive. Brooks steadily progressed throughout her breakout season and had little trouble carrying over her newfound ability to the postseason when it mattered most.
Florence Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M)
After being absent in the fall due to expired eligibility, we weren’t sure if Florance Uwajeneza could live up to the success she had last indoor track season. Of course, she didn’t just meet our expectations, she exceeded them and finished the season as a first-time national champion over 5000 meters. Uwajeneza is an established and seasoned veteran in her own right, but overtaking some seriously accomplished runners at the NCAA Indoor Championships puts her in “MVR” territory.
Men
Marissa: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))
Grace: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))
Gavin: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))
Garrett: George Couttie (Charleston (WV))
Women
Marissa: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
Grace: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
Gavin: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
Garrett: Sarah Koomson (West Texas A&M)
Men
Marissa: Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)
Grace: Soheil Boufrizi (Wingate)
Gavin: Daylen Madison (Ashland)
Garrett: Titouan Le Grix (Wingate)
Women
Marissa: Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
Grace: Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
Gavin: Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
Garrett: Alaysia Brooks (Ursuline (OH))
Men
Marissa: Simon Kelati Out-kicks Coca for 3k NCAA Title
Grace: Hamza Chahid Defeats Star-Studded 5k Field for His Second NCAA Title
Gavin: Simon Kelati Out-kicks Coca for 3k NCAA Title
Garrett: Miguel Coca Smashes D2 3k Record with a 7:44 PR at Boston U.
Women
Marissa: Florance Uwajeneza Takes 5k Gold in Upset for First NCAA Title
Grace: Gracie Hyde Breaks D2 Women’s 3k Record, Goes Sub-9:00
Gavin: Gracie Hyde Runs Fastest All-Conditions D2 Women’s Mile in 4:30
Garrett: Gracie Hyde Breaks D2 Women’s 3k Record, Goes Sub-9:00
Men
Marissa: Pol Domenech (Wingate)
Grace: Damon Martin (Adams State)
Gavin: Pol Domenech (Wingate)
Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)
*Tie broken via TSR contributor, Maura Beattie
Women
Marissa: Damon Martin (Adams State)
Grace: Damon Martin (Adams State)
Gavin: Damon Martin (Adams State)
Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)
Men
Marissa: Hamza Chahid (Wingate)
Grace: Miguel Coca (Adams State)
Gavin: Miguel Coca (Adams State)
Garrett: Miguel Coca (Adams State)
Women
Marissa: Gracie Hyde (Adams State)
Grace: Gracie Hyde (Adams State)
Gavin: Gracie Hyde (Adams State)
Garrett: Gracie Hyde (Adams State)