NEW ORLEANS - The USTFCCCA ITF Regional Awards were announced yesterday and the Blue Jays racked up the awards, nearly sweeping the Mid-Atlantic Region categories.
Matthew Kleiman,
Justin Canedy,
Ella Baran and
Annie Gutierrez were all honored while coaches
Bobby Van Allen, Alex Jebb and
Maura Knestout were also recognized by the USTFCCCA.
Kleiman and Canedy swept the men's side, earning Mid-Atlantic Region Track Athlete and Field Athlete of the Year, respectively. Kleiman ran a sub-4:10 mile three times this past season and will compete at NCAA's this weekend in the event. Canedy is in the top-10 nationally in the heptathlon and the triple jump and will also compete in the long jump at NCAA's. Jebb was named Mid-Atlantic Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for his work with Canedy and the rest of the Blue Jay jumps/multis athletes.
On the women's side, Baran was named Co-Mid-Atlantic Region Track Athlete of the Year, splitting the award with Esther Seeland of Messiah. Baran set multiple school records and broke the DIII NCAA record in the mile and also broke a national record in the 3000 this season. Gutierrez earns Field Athlete of the Year in the region after qualifying for four events at this weekend's NCAA Championships. Gutierrez sits in the top-10 in the pole vault and the pentathlon.
Van Allen earns Region Coach of the Year honors after leading his team to another Centennial Championship and has them ranked in the top-five nationally heading into NCAA's. Assistant coach
Maura Knestout was named Women's Assistant Coach of the Year helping the Blue Jay distance runners qualify an insane six runners for the 3000.
A large number of Blue Jays were named 2022 NCAA DIII ITF All-Region selections. The Blue Jay women had the second-most selections with 37. The All-Region selections are listed below.
MEN WOMEN
Arthur Beyer (Mile, DMR)
Ella Baran (Mile, 3000, DMR)
Justin Canedy (Heptathlon, Triple Jump, Long Jump, High Jump) Kaitlyn Bonney (4x400)
Daniel Chen (Mile, DMR)
Sydney Friedel (3000, 5000)
Ahmed Elmogi (200, DMR)
Annie Gutierrez (Pent., Long Jump, PV, High Jump, 60mH, 400)
Matthew Kleiman (Mile, DMR)
Annie Huang (800, DMR)
Gavin McElhennon (3000, 5000)
Victoria Kadiri (Pent., Long Jump, 60m, 200m)
Mitchell Porter (High Jump)
Molly Kuzma (5000)
Bryce Thalheimer (5000)
Sophie Nilsson (Triple Jump)
Lauren Phillips (200, 400, 4x400 Relay)
Alex Ross (3000, 5000)
Bridgid Selfors (5000)
Taryn Silvernale (Pent., High Jump)
Lina Spjut (Mile)
Sara Stephenson (Mile, 3000, DMR)
Ashley Tyburski (400, DMR, 4x400)
Diana Vizza (3000)
Anna Zaeske (4x400)
