USTFCCCA ::: Division III's Athletes of the Year for Outdoor Track & Field Anno

May 30, 2012 by FloTrack Staff

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http://www.ustfccca.org/2012/05/featured/division-iii-athletes-of-the-year-for-outdoor-track-field-announced

Division III’s Athletes of the Year for Outdoor Track & Field Announced

May 30, 2012

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Wednesday that UW-Stout’s Tim Nelson, Central (Iowa)’s Ethan Miller, Wartburg’s Nevada Morrison, and Linfield’s Catherine Street were named the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Athletes of the Year.

NATIONAL MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Tim Nelson, UW-Stout

Nelson, a senior, swept NCAA DIII titles in the 5000 and 10,000 meters at the national outdoor championships. He repeated the feat produced by North Central (Ill.)’s Mike Spain in 2011.

Earlier in the season, Nelson entered the NCAA Division III record books this season with the third-fastest time in history in the 5000 Meters at 13:57.02. That time also ended the season as the divisional best. Nelson won Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships in both the 5000 Meters and 10,000 Meters. Nelson is from Augusta, Wis.

Past Winners:

2012: Tim Nelson, UW-Stout

2011: Mike Spain, North Central (Ill.)

2010: Steve Headley, Springfield (Mass.)

2009: Peter Kosgei, Hamilton

2008: Peter Kosgei, Hamilton

2007: Will Leer, Pomona-Pitzer

2006: Macharia Yuot, Widener

NATIONAL MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ethan Miller, Central (Iowa)

Miller, a senior from Seymour, Iowa, captured the NCAA’s decathlon title for the second-straight year, winning this year’s event by more 230 points. He is the first back-to-back champion of the event since Willamette’s Jimmy Watts (1999-2000). Also this season, Miller was named the Field MVP of the IIAC Championships. In the conference meet, Miller won the triple jump, placed second in the long jump, and third in the high jump.

Miller was also named the USTFCCCA’s National Field Athlete of the Year for the 2012 indoor track & field season.

Past Winners:

2012: Ethan Miller, Central (Iowa)

2011: Eric Flores, Cal Lutheran

2010: Eric Flores, Cal Lutheran

2009: Josh Lovell, Linfield

2008: Kyle Steiner, UW-Stevens Point

2007: Al Winsley, Mississippi College

2006: Matt Roberson, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps

NATIONAL WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Nevada Morrison, Wartburg

Morrison, a senior from Maywood, Ill., helped lead the Knights to a NCAA team title and meet-record 129 points. At the national meet, Morrison repeated as the 400-meter champion, taking the tape in 54.15 seconds. In addition, Morrison anchored Wartburg to the squad’s sixth-straight NCAA 4x400 relay title. Morrison won the NCAA Championship in the outdoor 4x400 relay in all four years of eligibility. All told, between indoor and outdoor track & field, Morrison captured 12 NCAA titles – three in individual events and nine in relays.

Morrison earned the number seven spot on the all-time Division III record books in the 200 Meters with her top time of 23.84 earlier in the season. She earned Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Athlete of the Year honors after winning conference titles in the 200 Meters, 800 Meters, and as a member of Wartburg’s 4x100 Relay.

Past Winners:

2012: Nevada Morrison, Wartburg

2011: Ruby Blackwell, Methodist

2010: Marie Borner, Bethel (Minn.)

2009: Sumer Rohrs, Frostburg State

2008: Rachel Anderson, Illinois Wesleyan

2007: Marcia Taddy, UW-Platteville

2006: Amanda Kuca, Concordia Moorhead

NATIONAL WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Catherine Street, Linfield

Street, a senior from Wilsonville, Ore., won the NCAA pole vault crown, clearing a meet-record height of 13-9Â¼ (4.20m). The mark was a centimeter shy of her own personal best and then-divisional record she set earlier in the year, 13-9Â¾ (4.21m) in winning the title at the Northwest Conference Championships.

Past Winners:

2012: Catherine Street, Linfield

2011: Holly Ozanich, UW-Oshkosh

2010: Ellie Sitek, UW-Oshkosh

2009: Ashley Hutson, Hardin-Simmons

2008: Amy Reed, Messiah

2007: Jillian Crandall, UW-River Falls

2006: Robyn Jarocki, UW-Oshkosh

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Tom Lewis

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association

Communications Manager