2023 D2 Outdoor Track End of Season Awards

Written by John Cusick, Grace McLaughlin & Marissa Kuik, votes via TSR D2 staff

Additional edits and commentary by 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 this outdoor 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). D1 & D3 awards are in the works!

Let's begin...

Best Freshman Award (Men)

*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 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Tyer Nord (Western Colorado), Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead), Harry Ross-Hughes (Lake Erie), Elliot Dotson (Anderson (SC)), Lars Laros (Wingate), Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

After a dominant indoor track season, Hamza Chahid continued to run fast times during the spring months, coming away with incredible marks of 13:33 over 5000 meters and 3:44 for 1500 meters. The Wingate ace qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the 1500 meters and the 5k -- and that alone is an impressive feat for only a freshman to accomplish. He also came away with an All-American performance in the metric mile, cementing himself as a name to watch for the next few years.

Tyler Nord (Western Colorado)

Another true freshman star, Tyler Nord also qualified for the outdoor national meet in both the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters this spring, making another strong case for our “Best Freshman Award.” Nord started off his outdoor track season a little slow. He was running just "okay" times, but nothing that resembled his winter campaign. However, as the season rolled on, so did Nord as he finished on the podium over 1500 meters at the outdoor national meet and was outside of the podium in the 5k with an 11th place finish. Nord is easily looking like Western Colorado’s next superstar...if he's not there already.

Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

After running 3:43 twice over 1500 meters this season, Jared Gregoire left us wondering if he could back up such a staggering time at the outdoor national meet. Well, with a 3rd place finish in the metric mile a few weeks ago, which allowed him to defeat some big names in the process, Gregoire proved that his times were no fluke. The rookie also ran a 1:49 PR for the half-mile distance this season, building off of his indoor track success. However, after this outdoor track campaign, we may be seeing the emergence of a 1500 meter/mile specialist.

Harry Ross-Hughes (Lake Erie)

A true 800 meter specialist, Harry Ross-Hughes had an incredibly consistent outdoor track season. He raced the half-mile distance a plethora of times, but worked his way from 1:51 (800) all the way down to 1:48 (800). He would run that time twice at the end of the season with one of those marks earning him a 5th place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Though the 800 meters is becoming more and more stacked, expect Ross-Hughes to continue to improve with each passing season.

Elliot Dotson (Anderson (SC))

Usually, a true freshman does not get the chance to show off any sort of range, largely because they are still figuring out what distance best fits their skillset. That, however, does not apply to Elliot Dotson who ran impressive times in every distance from the 800 meters all the way up to the 10,000 meters. This season, he ran 1:52 (800), 3:49 (1500), 13:57 (5k) and 30:40 (10k) with that 5k effort earning him a spot at the national meet. His 17th place finish in his season finale was less than ideal, but Dotson has a bright future in almost any event that he chooses to contest.

Lars Laros (Wingate)

Who could be upset with a true freshman running PRs of 3:48 for 1500 meters and 14:04 for 5000 meters? Lars Laros has quietly played a consistently valuable role for the Wingate Bulldogs throughout this year. Though Laros did not race at the outdoor national meet, he has the talent to eventually be a big star in Division Two. He will continue to help the Bulldogs as they build their team around strong up-and-comers like himself.

Donald Kibet (Benedict)

Donald Kibet was oh-so-close to qualifying for the outdoor national meet in the 10k when he posted an early-season mark of 29:41. However, he spent the rest of the season trying out other events such as the 1500 meters and the steeplechase, posting respectable times in both disciplines. Surprisingly, Kibet only raced the 5k once and that came at his conference meet where he easily won, running 14:59. Kibet definitely has a bright future in the 10k, but he may have even more to show in the 5k if he chooses to pursue that route.

Best Freshman Award (Women)

*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 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State), Maggie Williams (Biola), Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State), Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State), Madison Clay (Catawba), Maggie McCleskey (Adams State), Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)

Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State)

Though Adams State is known for their incredible talent on the long distance side, Lieke Hoogsteen proved to be a fantastic talent over 800 meters. She ran a time of 2:08 for that distance while also posting a time of 4:27 for 1500 meters. Hoogsteen ultimately finished outside of the 800 meter finals at the outdoor national meet, though it didn't seem like she was at 100%. Hoogsteen could be leading the charge for the Adams State 800 meter brigade for seasons to come.

Maggie Williams (Biola)

Another potential 800 meter star on the rise is Maggie Williams who demonstrated her ability to run more like a veteran than a true freshman this spring, posting a 2:09 PR. Williams also just missed getting out of the preliminary rounds at the outdoor national meet, giving her a goal for next year and beyond. Williams ran a time of 4:33 for the metric mile, making her a future threat in multiple events over the next couple of years.

Lauren Kiley (Grand Valley State)

Lauren Kiley continues to put together impressive times for someone who is only a freshman. This outdoor track season, we saw Kiley run times of 4:27 for 1500 meters and 16:17 for 5000 meters. Her 5k time would get her into the outdoor national meet where she ultimately finished 15th overall. Even though that national meet finish may not have been up to her true potential, Kiley still demonstrated her overwhelming talent and superior strength this season.

Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

The consistency of Gianna Bomarito this season over 10,000 meters was astounding. She was the early national leader in Division Two for the 25-lap race for a good chunk of the season, running a time of 34:21. She would then go and run the 10k two more times before the outdoor national meet, posting marks of 34:05 and 34:40. The true freshman took her shot at the NCAA Outdoor Championships where she stuck with Florance Uwajeneza, but she eventually faltered while battling with the pace and altitude. Given this kind of consistency over such a grueling distance, expect Bomarito to just get better and better over the next few years and eventually evolve into an All-American.

Madison Clay (Catawba)

Not having an indoor track season allowed Madison Clay to focus on training for the spring months, ultimately putting together an incredible 10,000 meter racing campaign on the outdoor oval. Besides her first outing of 35:49 at that distance, Clay put together an incredibly consistent season, running times of 34:57, 35:02 and 34:43 for 10,000 meters. She would finish 14th at the outdoor national meet in the event. That's a good place to start, but we think Clay’s future is brighter than a 14th place finish at the outdoor national meet.

Maggie McCleskey (Adams State)

Maggie McCleskey's outdoor track season may not have been as strong as her winter campaign, but she still proved to be one of the best true freshmen out there. The Adams State talent would run times of 2:13 (800), 4:30 (1500) and 17:04 (5k) this season, making her a very well-rounded runner despite her youth. With the incredible coaching of Damon Martin, expect McCleskey to go far in the Division Two ranks sooner rather than later.

Ashley Reeck (Western Washington)

Taking on the steeplechase as a freshman can be a daunting task, but Ashley Reeck proved that she was up for it. The Western Washington rookie would end her season with a strong time of 10:54 over the barriers and a top-30 mark, nationally, in the event. She also came away with a PR of 4:33 over 1500 meters, suggesting that she could be more than just single-race athlete. Reeck proved that she can race well in high-stake scenarios, finishing 2nd in both the steeplechase and the metric mile at the GNAC Outdoor Championships.

Most Improved Award (Men)

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this spring. Prior seasons are used as a 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 outdoor track) of NCAA competition. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Josh Jones (Northwood), Angel Luera (Dallas Baptist), Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield), David Ecker (Sioux Falls), Charlie Wirth (Lewis), Aron Orar (Adams State), Evan Leist (Cedarville)

Josh Jones (Northwood)

Josh Jones did not even qualify for the outdoor national meet last year, but improved enough this season to find himself on the NCAA's biggest stage racing the 800 meters. Jones lowered his 800 meter time from 1:50 last year to 1:48 this year. He also lowered his 1500 meter personal best to 3:46, an impressive eight seconds faster than his previous PR of 3:54! Jones not only improved his speed, but he also improved his strength, allowing him to finish up his outdoor track season at the national meet.

Angel Luera (Dallas Baptist)

One of the bigger surprises of the outdoor national meet was Angel Luera’s 4th place finish in the 800 meter finals. Luera posted times of 1:48 (800) and 3:46 (1500) this season, demonstrating that he had the ability to run with the best men of Division Two. After running 3:49 for 1500 meters and "only" 1:54 in the half-mile last year, it’s no real surprise to see Luera as a candidate for our “Most Improved Runner Award."

Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield)

The only event that Christopher Cherry did not improve upon during this 2023 outdoor track season was the 5000 meters -- and that’s only because he did not race it! Cherry made incredible improvements in the half-mile, the metric mile and the 10k. Last season, UIS runner posted marks of 1:58 (800), 3:51 (1500) and 30:00 (10k). This year, Cherry dropped an astounding eight seconds over 800 meters (running 1:51) and dropped almost the same amount of time from his 1500 meter PR (running 3:45). And when it came to the 10k, Cherry raced to a time of 29:24, improving by 36 seconds. The numbers speak for themselves and that's likely why Coach Sean Carlson is taking a chance on Cherry after the distance talent recently announced his decision to transfer to Tennessee.

David Ecker (Sioux Falls)

Jumping over barriers and water pits became David Ecker’s speciality this season, largely because he went from running 9:20 in the steeplechase last spring to an incredible 8:55 this season! His time would also qualify him for the NCAA Outdoor Championships. Though he did fail to make it out of the preliminaries at the outdoor national meet, Ecker proved to be one of the best D2 men in that event thanks to his huge improvement.

Charlie Wirth (Lewis)

What a season for Charlie Wirth! The Lewis distance talent went from running 4:05 for 1500 meters to 3:52 this season. On top of that massive improvement, Wirth also went from 14:51 over 500 meters to a 14:10 PR, getting close to sneaking under the 14-minute barrier in the event and ultimately qualifying for his first national meet. For someone who is just a sophomore, Wirth should improve even more and hopefully success on the national stage comes with it.

Aron Orar (Adams State)

Qualifying for your first outdoor national meet is definitely exciting, but to also finish as an All-American is the cherry on top. Aron Orar did just that this season, finishing 7th over 10,000 meters at the national meet and notching massive improvements in the process. He would chop-off a whopping 80 seconds from his 10k time, going from 30:44 to 29:24. He would also see small improvements in both his 5k and 1500 marks, improving from 14:14 to 14:05 and from 3:59 to 3:56, respectively.

Evan Leist (Cedarville)

Another athlete to achieve an incredible improvement in the 10k distance is Evan Leist. He improved his 10k time from last season to this outdoor track season by nearly two minutes, improving from 31:12 to an impressive 29:21 mark! This remarkable improvement allowed Leist to compete at the outdoor national meet where he would finish 18th overall. Leist’s massive improvement in the 10k makes him an easy nominee for our “Most Improved Award.”

Most Improved Award (Women)

*Evaluates nationally competitive distance talents who were not expected to make the leaps in fitness that they did this spring. Prior seasons are used as a 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 outdoor track) of NCAA competition. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis), Porshe Eismann (CUI), Reina Paredes (Adams State), Allison Beasley (Western Colorado), Jori Paradis (CUI), Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis)

This Fort Lewis star blew us away in the postseason, earning herself the nomination for the “Most Improved Award.” Katie Fankhouser ran times of 4:23 for 1500 meters and 2:08 over 800 meters, qualifying herself for the national meet in both events. She would opt to compete in only the metric mile, earning an All-American spot in the process. Last year, Fankhouser wasn’t even dreaming of competing at the outdoor national meet as her times of 2:15 (800) and 4:46 (1500) were not nationally competitive. Her huge improvements this season put her among Division Two’s best and she didn’t disappoint as she finished her breakout season with NCAA silver over 1500 meters.

Porshe Eismann (CUI)

The improvements that Porshe Eismann made at the half-mile distance this spring were truly incredible. Last year, she ran a time of 2:21 (800), but has since whittled her PR down to an insane mark of 2:08 (800)! This mark would punch her ticket to the NCAA Outdoor Championships where she would finish 15th overall. To top it all off, Eismann also came away with another massive improvement over 1500 meters, moving from 5:06 all the way down to 4:33, ultimately earning her a nomination for our “Most Improved Runner Award.”

Reina Paredes (Adams State)

It took Reina Paredes a few seasons to find the event where she truly shined in. And this spring, that just so happened to be the 10,000 meters. Paredes had tried her hand in the steeplechase, the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters, but after this season, it’s safe to say that she found her stride at the longest distance. Last season, the Adams State talent ran a solid time of 35:44 in the event, but after one year of training, she lowered her PR by almost two minutes, racing to a mark of 34:00, making it impossible for us to leave out her name from these nominations.

Allison Beasley (Western Colorado)

During the 2022 outdoor track season, Allison Beasley competed unattached and contested just one steeplechase race. Nevertheless, Beasley demonstrated an insane amount of improvement from her unattached season to what she accomplished this spring. Last year, Beasley ran 4:40 for 1500 meters, 17:47 for 5000 meters and 11:25 for steeplechase. This season, she dropped her times to 4:27 (1500), 16:23 (5k) and 10:24 (steeple)! Her improvement over the barriers also earned her a huge runner-up finish in the event at the outdoor national meet, giving us all the reasons we need to nominate her for this award.

Emily Schoellkopf (Adams State)

Not only did Emily Schoellkopf improve her times, but she also improved her ability to compete at the championship level. Schoellkopf took off an impressive 18 seconds from her steeplechase time, lowering her best from 10:45 to 10:27. She also took a massive 40 seconds off of her 5k time from 16:56 to 16:16! She also placed very well at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, finishing with NCAA bronze in the steeplechase and a 6th place finish over 5000 meters, capping off a sensational breakout outdoor track campaign.

Jori Paradis (CUI)

Even though Jori Paradis just missed making the outdoor national meet for 1500 meters, she did show incredible improvement from last season. Paradis' best time in the metric mile before this season was 4:40. But after this season, her 1500 meter PR now sits at 4:26 as she dropped 14 seconds off of her previous mark. She also cut-off 45 seconds in the 5k, going from 17:45 to 17:00. Paradis’ time-based leaps over two very different distances this spring was enough to get her a nomination for this award.

Khot Juac (Sioux Falls)

Another athlete to just barely miss making it to the outdoor national meet, but still saw some incredible improvements, is Khot Juac. Her times over 1500 meters and 5000 meters saw significant progress, placing her in the conversation of qualifying for the national meet. Last year, she ran personal bests of 4:37 and 17:20 for the metric mile and the 5k, respectively. This year, she improved by 12 seconds over 1500 meters (running 4:25) while improving by 40 seconds for 5000 meters (running 16:40).

Best Performance Award (Men)

*Must have run attached at least once this spring. 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. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Oussama El Bouchayby Runs 1:45.31 (800) & NCAA #2 All-Time Mark to Win Texas Relays, Wes Ferguson Wins Third National Title Over 800 Meters in 1:45, Dillon Powell Runs 13:30 (5k) for NCAA #4 All-Time Mark, Jan Lukas Becker Wins 10k National Title With Impressive Comeback, Reece Smith Wins Second-Straight Steeplechase National Title, Luke Julian Wins First National Title (1500) in Final Race of His Career

Oussama El Bouchayby Runs 1:45.31 (800) & NCAA #2 All-Time Mark to Win Texas Relays

Oussama El Bouchayby’s 1:45.31 (800) mark and matching victory at the Texas Relays is enough in-and-of-itself to be nominated for this award. However, his superior race tactics and ability to win against an elite field add to the argument that this race was the best D2 performance of the season. The Angelo State star beat Bryce Hoppel, Tiarnan Crorken and Yusuf Bizimana en route to his 1:45 result...and he made it look easy!

Wes Ferguson Wins Third National Title Over 800 Meters in 1:45

It’s not uncommon for athletes to win multiple national titles, but three titles in an event as unpredictable and as tactical as the 800 meters is what makes Wes Ferguson’s performance so wildly impressive. While he did not have to face Oussama El Bouchayby, Ferguson’s dominant win and 1:45.46 mark at altitude was arguably the most shocking race of the outdoor national meet and a clear display of Ferguson’s firepower in the event.

Dillon Powell Runs 13:30 (5k) for NCAA #4 All-Time Mark

Dillon Powell’s 13:30 (5k) mark at the Stanford Invitational was the highlight of his season and he nearly matched his 13:28 PR and Division Two record from the winter months. While this performance was not surprising given, it was the fastest mark of the season and it further proved that the Colorado Mines senior was a cut above the rest of Division Two.

Jan Lukas Becker Wins 10k National Title With Impressive Comeback

Jan Lukas Becker was not someone who was favored win the 10k national title due to the altitude and competitive field. Even so, he pulled off the win in electric fashion. Adam State’s Awet Beraki led the majority of the race before Becker made a move over the last 800 meters that simply could not be matched. His thrilling finish and victory were one of the more surprising results of the outdoor national meet. That, in turn, gave him a good argument to be listed among these nominees.

Reece Smith Wins Second-Straight Steeplechase National Title

Reece Smith’s dominant national title win in the steeplechase was impressive, but the fact that he’s won back-to-back national titles in an event as volatile as the steeplechase puts his victory at the outdoor national meet among these nominees. While this result was not unexpected, his ability to pull it off should not be discredited.

Luke Julian Wins First National Title (1500) in Final Race of His Career

Luke Julian was the national runner-up in the mile on the indoor oval, so his victory shouldn’t be that surprising -- but somehow, it was. The Colorado Mines ace unleashed a lethal kick to take down Adam State’s Miguel Coca over the final 100 meters to finally win a national title after being a consistent All-American throughout his career. While he went into the outdoor national meet with the third-fastest 1500 meter time of the season (after altitude conversions) and was a clear pick for All-American honors, his gold medal run was one of the more exciting races of the outdoor national meet and possibly the entire season.

Best Performance Award (Women)

*Must have run attached at least once this spring. 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. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Lindsay Cunningham Wins 10k National Title & Runs Colorado Soil Record, Lindsay Cunningham Runs 32:43.64 (10k) for NCAA #3 All-Time Mark, Ukeyvia Beckwith Wins 800 Meter National Title With Negative Split, Eleonora Curtabbi Runs 9:57.76 (Steeple) for NCAA #6 All-Time Mark, Eleonora Curtabbi Wins Second-Straight Steeplechase National Title, Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) for NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Lindsay Cunningham Wins 10k National Title & Runs Colorado Soil Record

Was Lindsay Cunningham’s national title in the 10k a surprise? No, not really, but there were some doubts due to the altitude factor. Regardless, her dominant 13-second victory and ability to shake off Brianna Robles in the latter portion of this race rightfully put her victory in contention for the best performance of the season. And let's not forget, her mark of 33:55 was a 10k Colorado soil record!

Lindsay Cunningham Runs 32:43.64 (10k) for NCAA #3 All-Time Mark

It’s not news that Lindsay Cunningham has excellent endurance and uses front-running tactics, but she also isn’t afraid to take risks. The Winona State sophomore earned a runner-up finish at the Mt. SAC Relays over 10,000 meters earlier this season and was the top collegiate after taking the race out with the pros. While running 32:43.64, which is one of the fastest 10k marks in D2 history, is impressive, the talent and confidence that Cunningham displayed in this race makes it one of the best performances of the season.

Ukeyvia Beckwith Wins 800 Meter National Title With Negative Split

While Ukeyvia Beckwith’s gold medal speaks for itself. Her negative split over 800 meters at altitude demonstrates just how tactically sharp and talented she is. While 2:06 is a time that she has run several times before, opening the race with a 64.17-second first lap and closing in 62.57 seconds at 4700 feet is wildly impressive.

Eleonora Curtabbi Runs 9:57.76 (Steeple) for NCAA #6 All-Time Mark

Eleonora Curtabbi has established herself as a phenomenal steeplechase runner, but breaking the 10:00 barrier at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April put her among elite company on the D2 all-time list. The Buffalo ace’s performance of 9:57 proved that she was on another level when it comes to the steeplechase at the Division Two level.

Eleonora Curtabbi Wins Second-Straight Steeplechase National Title

Eleonora Curtabbi was the clear favorite to win the national title in the steeplechase this spring. She was the reigning champion from last year and made tremendous improvements this spring, but that doesn’t make this performance any less impressive. Her dominant back-to-back gold medals in the event was an exciting storyline at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and it makes her one of the best steeplechase runners in D2 history.

Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) for NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Celine Ritter’s (former) seasonal best time of 4:18 over 1500 meters, as well as her national title in the event, were certainly impressive, but her last race in a Lee (Tenn.) singlet solidified her as one of the best metric milers in Division Two history. The Flames ace ran 4:11.41, just off the D2 record of 4:11.06 at the Music City Invitational and placed 5th overall in an elite field. This race was a phenomenal way for Ritter to close out her NCAA career and creates a strong argument for the best performance of the season.

Best Team / Distance Coach Award (Men's Teams)

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 outdoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Pol Domenech (Wingate), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Damon Martin (Adams State), Mark Misch (UC-Colorado Springs), Jen Michel (Western Colorado), Brady Bonsall (Nebraska-Kearney), Jon Poag (Colorado Christian)

Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

It doesn’t come as a surprise to see Coach Chris Siemers as part of these nominees. Siemers has continued to propel Colorado Mines into one of the country’s top distance programs and that was on display yet again over the last few months. The Orediggers qualified nine different men for the national meet, including six athletes in the 10k alone! When you add in Luke Julian’s national title in the metric mile and Dillon Powell’s historic 13:30 (5k) mark, it makes sense why we see Siemers’ name here once again.

Pol Domenech (Wingate)

We’ve highlighted Coach Pol Domenech since the fall and we won’t stop after what his group accomplished on the outdoor oval. Domenech helped four athletes qualify for the national meet this past May. The biggest highlight would be Hamza Chahid’s 13:33 (5k) performance earlier this season which landed him the NCAA #6 all-time mark in the event. It’s clear that Domenech has changed Wingate’s trajectory in terms of a program and this is just the beginning of what the Bulldogs can achieve.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Coach Jerry Baltes has been a mainstay in these nominations since we began giving out these awards. And while the Lakers' results for 2023 aren’t quite as flashy as they have been in years past, we think that Coach Baltes still did a strong job of getting his athletes ready for a national meet contested at altitude. On that stage, Caleb Futter put together a remarkable race in the steeplechase, coming away with a 4th place finish. That was the lone All-American for the Lakers’ distance squad this past outdoor track season. However, 13 athletes posted provisional qualifying marks, reminding us that Grand Valley State’s depth will soon materialize into legitimate firepower.

Damon Martin (Adams State)

Would it really be a list of top coaching nominees without Coach Damon Martin? We didn’t think so, either. A total of seven athletes from Alamosa, Colorado qualified for the national meet which included Awet Beraki who took home runner-up honors in the 10k and NCAA gold in the 5k. That Grizzlies' 3rd place team finish was also led by the distance squad who scored 32 points out of the team’s total of 44 points. The ability to prep his athletes for the national meet separates Coach Damon Martin as one of the greats.

Mark Misch (UC-Colorado Springs)

While there may have been prior seasons where the UC-Colorado Springs men have been better, it's undeniable that Coach Mark Misch was able to develop multiple nationally competitive men for the 2023 outdoor track season. Evan Graff, Marcus Graham, Jagger Zlotoff and Afewerki Zeru all qualified for the national meet and the latter two men left as All-Americans. And truthfully, there was a very realistic scenario where all four of those men could have been All-Americans this spring. For that reason, Coach Misch undoubtedly deserves to be among these nominees.

Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Western Colorado sent five men to the national meet this spring and four of them walked away as All-Americans. Albert Hesse stole the show as he navigated his way to NCAA silver in the steeplechase in one of the more surprising finishes of the national meet. Not to be outdone, Simon Kelati finished as a double All-American, making him one of seven athletes to accomplish that in Pueblo, Colorado. Coach Jen Michel has been known to coach exceptional steeplechasers and this year is no different. That, however, should not take away from the fact that she almost always puts together one of the best distance groups year-in and year-out.

Brady Bonsall (Nebraska-Kearney)

Nebraska-Kearney and Coach Brady Bonsall may have only qualified three distance athletes to the national meet, but two of those athletes left as All-Americans. Wes Ferguson wasn’t just an All-American, but he won his third national title in the 800 meters while Ben Arens secured his first top-eight finish. Coach Bonsall has quietly turned Nebraska-Kearney into a very strong distance program and that progress should only grow stronger from here on out.

Jon Poag (Colorado Christian)

The build for Coach Jon Poag and Colorado Christian's roster has been a long one, but this year’s 2023 campaign can be attributed to Poag’s ability to build aerobic monsters. The Cougars sent four men to the national meet with two of those athletes (Josh Pierantoni and Matthew Storer) leaving with double All-American honors. There’s still plenty more for Colorado Christian to accomplish, but 2023 will likely just be the start of a consistently strong program with Coach Jon Poag at the helm.

Best Team / Distance Coach Award (Women's Teams)

*Considers performances throughout the entirety of the 2023 outdoor track season. Success relative to seasonal expectations or success relative to historical accolades of the program are factored into account when listing nominees. Performances past 6/10 are not considered.

Nominees: Damon Martin (Adams State), Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines), Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State), Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M), John Hibshman (Winona State), Jen Michel (Western Colorado), Caleb Morgan (Lee (TN))

Damon Martin (Adams State)

Surprise, surprise! We once again see Coach Damon Martin among this list of nominees. A pair of runner-up honors (10k and 5k) from Brianna Robles at the national meet certainly bolsters Martin's case to win this award. However, it wasn’t just Robles who had success as five of the 11 athletes who Adams State sent to the national meet came away with All-American honors. Their efforts landed the Grizzlies a 6th place team finish with 34 total points.

Chris Siemers + Staff (Colorado Mines)

You could argue that the Orediggers' 2023 NCAA Outdoor Championship showing was the best collective effort ever seen from Coach Chris Siemers’ women's group on that stage, at least as of recently. When looking at the national meet results, two top-eight finishes in the 800 meters and the 10k make it easy to credit Siemers and middle distance coach Scott Van Sickle for their accomplishments. And while All-American finishes were anticipated, we feel that this group had one of the better overall 2023 outdoor track seasons.

Jerry Baltes (Grand Valley State)

Another successful outdoor track season for Grand Valley State has come and gone and once again, you can find Coach Jerry Baltes at the forefront. Eight Laker women (middle and long distance) qualified for the national meet this past spring. And while only three left as All-Americans, the Lakers aren't going to be losing their national-caliber status any time soon.

Zach Daniel (West Texas A&M)

Coach Zach Daniel was the mastermind behind the brilliance of Eleonora Curtabbi and Florance Uwajeneza this past outdoor track season. Curtabbi raced to the steeplechase national title with ease while Uwajeneza continued to be one of the best distance talents in the country. Coach Zach Daniel helped both athletes to top-10 all-time marks as Curtabbi ran the NCAA #6 all-time mark of 9:57.76 (steeplechase) and Uwajeneza ran the NCAA #4 all-time mark of 32:49.06 (10k). This is Daniel’s first year at the helm of the distance squad and if this year is any indication, then we should expect the Buffaloes to be a prominent program for years to come.

John Hibshman (Winona State)

Coach John Hibshman had three top-five finishes between two athletes at the outdoor national meet. Obviously, what Lindsay Cunningham did was remarkable, earning two national titles (10k and 5k) a few weeks ago. When pairing her success with Kaylee Beyer’s 5th place finish over 1500 meters, as well as a subtly-solid season from McKenna Taylor, it felt necessary to include Hibshman within our nominees for “Best Distance Coach.”

Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

We could write nearly the identical thing for the women of Western Colorado as we did for the men of Western Colorado. Coach Jen Michel had four women qualify for the national meet this spring and three of them left with top-five finishes at the national meet. Katie Doucette ended her Western Colorado career with double All-American honors (10k and 5k) while Allison Beasley and Leah Taylor both surprised with silver (steeplechase) and bronze (1500) medals, respectively. Coach Jen Michel was already one of the best coaches in Division Two, but this season stood out quite a bit.

Caleb Morgan (Lee (Tenn.))

Coach Caleb Morgan has been one of the best coaches in Division Two for years now and that remains true in 2023. Celine Ritter walked away with a national title in the 1500 meters and doubled back in the 5000 meters to finish in 3rd place. Aria Hawkins made her outdoor national meet debut and qualified for the 1500 meter finals where she narrowly missed a top-eight finish. Lily Hare is also looking like a highly promising distance talent. All of that is great, but when you add in Ritter’s most recent run of 4:11.41 (1500), that makes her the second-fastest woman Division Two has ever seen across that distance. Naturally, Coach Morgan was going to be listed among our nominees.

Most Valuable Runner Award (Men)

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 6/10 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines), Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State), Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney), Miguel Coca (Adams State), Charlie Dannatt (Simon Fraser), Hamza Chahid (Wingate), Reece Sharman-Newell (CSU-Pueblo), Reece Smith (NW Missouri), Awet Beraki (Adams State), Jan Lukas Becker (Mississippi College)

Dillon Powell (Colorado Mines)

Despite racing just two times during this outdoor track season, Dillon Powell finds himself as a nominee for our “Most Valuable Runner Award.” Powell ran the NCAA #4 all-time mark for 5000 meters when he posted a time of 13:30.93 at the end of March. His absence at the outdoor national meet was sorely missed as his potential 20 points across two events could have helped Colorado Mines finish higher than 12th as a team. Of course, that’s a “what if” scenario and we will never get that answer, but it’s hard to believe that Powell would have been anywhere outside of the top-three in his events.

Oussama El Bouchayby (Angelo State)

Oussama El Bouchayby had run the fastest 800 meter time in the entire NCAA up until the weekend of the Division One outdoor national meet. His 1:45.31 mark was just seven-tenths of a second off of the 27-year-old Division Two collegiate record over 800 meters and it was good enough to outlast Bryce Hoppel at the Texas Relays. Add in the fact that he ran another 1:45 mark for the half-mile at the Bryan Clay Invite and he’s clearly one of the best runners that Division Two has had to offer in its history.

Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Wes Ferguson may have the best case to win this year’s “Most Valuable Runner Award". His tactical masterclass at the outdoor national meet to defend his outdoor national title in the 800 meters was simply astonishing. His comeback was enhanced by the fact that he ran the NCAA #3 all-time mark in the half-mile after clocking a time of 1:45.46. We knew Ferguson was good going into this outdoor track season, but a huge new personal best and three sub-1:48 half-mile efforts tell us just how good Ferguson really was this past spring.

Miguel Coca (Adams State)

Miguel Coca has turned into one of the best overall distance runners in Division Two. Coca laid down personal bests of 1:50 (800), 3:41 (1500) and 13:36 (5k) earlier this spring to solidify his status among Division Two’s elite. He finished with an NCAA silver in the metric mile at the outdoor national meet to add to his indoor mile national title from earlier in the winter. Coca’s effort in the 5k was also good enough for a top-10 all-time mark in Division Two, adding even more to his resume.

Charlie Dannatt (Simon Fraser)

This wasn't the storybook ending that Charlie Dannatt had expected, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t one of the best runners in the country this season. Dannatt’s 1500 meter mark of 3:41.38 was the fast raw time in Division Two this season. He also ran 1:49.98 for 800 meters to win the GNAC title and earn his second top-30 time, nationally, this spring. Dannatt was Simon Fraser’s best runner this season and was one of the best in the country which makes him a candidate for our “Most Valuable Runner Award.”

Hamza Chahid (Wingate)

On paper, Hamza Chahid was the biggest threat to Dillon Powell at the national meet (pre-scratch) over 5000 meters and was a dark horse candidate to win the 1500 meter national title as well. This is backed by the fact that Chahid ran 13:33 for 5000 meters and is now the sixth-fastest man in Division Two for that distance. It also helps that he ran 3:44 for 1500 meters and backed up what we saw during the winter months. Despite a more modest national meet finish than expected, Chahid’s talent is undeniable and he’s the lead man for a budding Wingate program.

Reece Sharman-Newell (CSU-Pueblo)

Reece Sharman-Newell was this close to having the best season that you could have asked for as an 800 meter runner. Sharman-Newell claimed the RMAC title over 1500 meters and the 800 meters. He then took that momentum and turned it into a runner-up finish in the half-mile at the outdoor national meet. The Thunderwolf star also posted a new 1500 meter personal best of 3:45, making him of the best D2 middle distance talents in the country. In a year where we saw some of the best 800 meter runners in D2 history emerge, it’d be wrong to leave this Thunderwolf athlete out of the conversation.

Reece Smith (NW Missouri)

Reece Smith’s second national title in the steeplechase felt almost inevitable throughout the entirety of the 2023 outdoor track season. And sure enough, his second-straight national title in the event was dominant in nearly every fashion of the term. Smith posted marks of 8:38 (steeple) and 13:50 (5k) this spring with the latter being a personal best. He was a two-time All-American at the outdoor national meet and took home MIAA gold medals in both the steeple and the 5k. Smith has been one of the most dominant outdoor track athletes over the past two years and it’s no surprise to find him here yet again.

Awet Beraki (Adams State)

Awet Beraki has quietly been one of the best long distance talents that Division Two had to offer this past spring. Despite not running any personal bests this past outdoor track season, Beraki still finds himself on this list due to his postseason racing. Beraki was denied his first national title in the 10k, but persisted in the 5k to earn the first national title of his career. Known as a front-runner, we saw Beraki hone his racing tactics and take advantage of the altitude in Pueblo, Colorado. Those efforts have earned him a nomination for our Division Two “Most Valuable Runner Award.”

Most Valuable Runner Award (Women)

*Must have run attached this season. Performances past 6/10 are not considered. Voters can choose to vote for the best distance runner or the most valuable distance runner this season.

Nominees: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State), Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State), Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M), Brianna Robles (Adams State), Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M), Celine Ritter (Lee (Tenn.)), Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State), Ukeyvia Beckwith (Embry-Riddle), Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)

Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Lindsay Cunningham’s cap to the 2022-2023 academic calendar was nothing short of spectacular. The Winona State star ran an NCAA #3 all-time mark of 32:43.64 (10k) and an NCAA #8 all-time mark of 15:45.91 (5k). She won both national titles at the outdoor national meet and swept the NSIC Outdoor Championships in those same events. Cunningham has somehow outperformed the already-large expectations that were previously on her shoulders. She’s arguably the most dominant Division Two athlete in 2023 no matter the gender.

Natalie Graber (Grand Valley State)

Natalie Graber’s breakout indoor track season led to a breakout outdoor track campaign. We saw Graber set new personal bests in the 1500 meters (4:21), the 5k (16:08) and the steeplechase (10:13). Those improvements helped her to a 4th place finish in the steeplechase and an 8th place finish in the 5k, all at the outdoor national meet. She was one of Grand Valley State’s best runners this season and is deserving of being nominated this spring.

Eleonora Curtabbi (West Texas A&M)

Coming into the outdoor track season, there was no single athlete who was favored to win a national title like Eleonora Curtabbi was. The West Texas A&M veteran proved how good she was once again this spring as she dipped under 10:00 in the steeplechase and posted the NCAA #6 all-time mark for Division Two. She won her second-straight steeplechase national title and won LSC gold in both the 1500 meters and the steeplechase. Curtabbi is one of the best steeplechasers we have ever seen in Division Two history and this past spring cemented her legacy among them.

Brianna Robles (Adams State)

Brianna Robles was the runner-up finisher in the 10k and the 5k at the outdoor national meet this past spring. Like her teammate Beraki, we didn’t see Robles set any new personal bests this spring. However, she did account for 18 points of Adams State’s 34 total team points at the national meet -- and that alone should put her into the “Most Valuable Runner” conversation.

Florance Uwajeneza (West Texas A&M)

Florance Uwajeneza continued to be one of the best long distance talents in Division Two. Despite already knowing that, Uwajeneza ran the NCAA #4 all-time mark in the 10k when she posted a time of 32:49.06. She ended her career at West Texas A&M with a 3rd place finish in the 10k and a 4th place finish in the 5k, bringing her All-American count to four for the outdoor circuit. She also snagged gold at the LSC Outdoor Championships in both the 10k and the 5k for the second-straight year.

Celine Ritter (Lee (Tenn.))

This spring, it took Celine Ritter a little longer to get back to what we normally had seen from her throughout her career. That, of course, makes sense given that she didn’t race on the track for nearly a full calendar year. Ritter tripled at the GSC Outdoor Championships, winning the half-mile, the metric mile and the 10k. She would ride that momentum to a national title in the 1500 meters and later earn an extremely impressive NCAA bronze medal in the 5k mere hours later. To then run an NCAA #2 all-time mark of 4:11 after the national meet, just barely missing the overall D2 record, was the cherry on top of an incredible D2 career. Ritter was one of the best postseason performers this entire season and she should be recognized for that.

Klaudia O’Malley (Grand Valley State)

We’re not sure if Klaudia O’Malley will win this award, but it’s incredibly hard to leave her out of this conversation after the 2023 outdoor track season that she had. O’Malley set new personal bests in the 800 meters (2:10) and the 5k (16:07) this past spring. She won the 800 meter title at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships and was the 6th place finisher in the metric mile at the outdoor national meet. She is one of the most naturally talented distance runners in all of Division two and her postseason showing isn't indicative of her full potential.

Ukeyvia Beckwith (Embry-Riddle)

Ukeyvia Beckwith ran the fastest raw 800 meter time in Division Two this season by nearly two seconds. That margin of difference was evident in the 800 meter finals at the outdoor national meet as Beckwith put together a dominant race plan and won her first national title. The Embry-Riddle superstar ran 2:06.00 or faster five times out of her seven races. In an event that we thought was wide-open heading into the spring months, Beckwith proved to be head and shoulders above the rest of her competition.

Helen Braybrook (CSU-Pueblo)

Helen Braybrook posted new personal bests of 2:06 (800) and 4:20 (1500) this outdoor track season, bringing her name into the conversation as one of the more talented middle distance runners in Division Two. She posted that new half-mile personal best at the RMAC Outdoor Championships as she took home the gold medal. She’d go on to finish with silver in the 800 meters at the national meet, making Braybrook one of the top overall talents in the country.

FINAL VOTES

Best Freshman Award

Men

Marissa: Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

Grace: Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

John: Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

Garrett: Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

Overall Winner: Jared Gregoire (MSU-Moorhead)

Women

Marissa: Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Grace: Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

John: Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Garrett: Lieke Hoogsteen (Adams State)

Overall Winner: Gianna Bomarito (Sonoma State)

Most Improved Award

Men

Marissa: Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield)

Grace: Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield)

John: Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield)

Garrett: Angel Luera (Dallas Baptist)

Overall Winner: Christopher Cherry (Illinois-Springfield)

Women

Marissa: Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis)

Grace: Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis)

John: Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis)

Garrett: Porshe Eismann (CUI)

Overall Winner: Katie Fankhouser (Fort Lewis)

Best Performance Award

Men

Marissa: Luke Julian Wins First National Title (1500) in Final Race of His Career

Grace: Wes Ferguson Wins Third National Title Over 800 Meters With 1:45 Mark

John: Wes Ferguson Wins Third National Title Over 800 Meters With 1:45 Mark

Garrett: Oussama El Bouchayby Wins Texas Relays in 1:45.31 (800) & NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Overall Winner: Wes Ferguson Wins Third National Title Over 800 Meters With 1:45 Mark

Women

Marissa: Lindsay Cunningham Wins 10k National Title & Runs Colorado Soil Record

Grace: Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) For NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

John: Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) For NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Garrett: Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) For NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Overall Winner: Celine Ritter Runs 4:11 (1500) For NCAA #2 All-Time Mark

Best Distance Coach / Team Award

Men

Marissa: Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Grace: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

John: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Garrett: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Overall Winner: Chris Siemers (Colorado Mines)

Women

Marissa: Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Grace: Damon Martin (Adams State)

John: Jen Michel (Western Colorado)

Garrett: Damon Martin (Adams State)

Overall Winner: Damon Martin (Adams State)*

*Tie broken via TSR contributor, Scotty Loughlin

Most Valuable Runner Award

Men

Marissa: Reece Smith (NW Missouri)

Grace: Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

John: Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Garrett: Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Overall Winner: Wes Ferguson (Nebraska-Kearney)

Women

Marissa: Celine Ritter (Lee (Tenn.))

Grace: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

John: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Garrett: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)

Overall Winner: Lindsay Cunningham (Winona State)