SAC Sweeps USTFCCCA Division II Indoor Track & Field Southeast Region Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the eight regions – Atlantic, Central, East, Midwest, South, South Central, Southeast, and West – honored both gender's top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
The South Atlantic Conference swept the men's and women's Southeast Region awards winning men's and women's track athlete of the year, men's and women's field athlete of the year, men's and women's head coach of the year, and men's and women's assistant coach of the year.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Men's Track Athlete of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Hamza Chahid – Wingate
Chahid, who hails from Mrirt, Morocco, won the 3000 meters and anchored the winning DMR at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He started the weekend off with a 4:00.40 tote in the DMR before returning the following afternoon to break the tape in the 3000 at PR 8:00.35. Chahid won both the mile and 3000 at the SAC Indoor Championships to help lead Wingate to a team title.
Men's Field Athlete of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Jacob Wadsworth – Lenoir-Rhyne
Wadsworth, who hails from Dansville, New York, finished fourth in the heptathlon at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships with a PR total of 5475 points. During the regular season, he was named the SAC Field Athlete of the Year after winning the long jump – with a PR of 7.44m (24-5) – and placing fourth in the high jump at the conference championships.
Men's Coach of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne
Paterson, in his fourth year as head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a seventh-place finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, earning seven First Team All-America awards. He was voted SAC Coach of the Year as the Bears finished as team runner-up and won six events. Six of the Lenoir-Rhyne events were top-15 in #EventSquad Rankings, topped by No. 2 ratings in the 200 meters and heptathlon.
Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Seandell Davis – Lenoir-Rhyne
Davis, in his fourth year as associate head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached Bear sprinters to runner-up finishes in the 60 and 200 meters at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships in earning three First Team All-America awards. His athletes, which includes the jumps and combined events, won four event titles at the SAC Indoor Championships – 200, long jump, heptathlon, and 4×400 relay.
Women's Track Athlete of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Alexis Brown – Lenoir-Rhyne
Brown, who hails from Mableton, Georgia, set an NCAA DII record in the 200 meters of 23.26 in winning the event title at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. During the same meet, she also finished fourth in the 60 meters at 7.36. Earlier in the season, though, Brown moved up to No. 7 in NCAA DII history in the 60 when she ran 7.25 at the SAC Indoor Championships.
Women's Field Athlete of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Moena Battle – Wingate
Battle, who hails from Atlanta, Georgia, finished third in the high jump at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships when she tied a PR of 1.75m (5-8¾). She won two of three meets prior to the NCAA Championships, including a victory at the SAC Indoor Championships.
Women's Coach of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Kevin Paterson – Lenoir-Rhyne
Patterson, in his fourth year at Lenoir-Rhyne, led the Bears to a top-15 finish at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, where they had three First-Team All-Americans. Most notably, Alexis Brown won the 200-meter crown and set an NCAA DII record in the process at 23.26. Patterson was named the SAC Indoor Coach of the Year after leading his team to a runner-up finish at the SAC Indoor Championships behind five event champions who set three meet records.
Women's Assistant Coach of the Year
SOUTHEAST REGION – Seandell Davis – Lenoir-Rhyne
Davis, in his fourth year as associate head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, coached three Bear athletes to First Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA DII Indoor Championships, including the national champion and DII record-setter Alexis Brown in the 200 meters. His athletes scored 89 points at the SAC Indoor Championships, winning four event titles – 60, 200, triple jump, and pentathlon.