GUNNISON, Colo. Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season were announced on Monday (June 5) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the season. After a stellar performance at the 2023 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships by the men’s distance athletes, assistant distance coach Jennifer Michel was named South Central Region Men’s Assistant Coach of The Year.
During the 2023 outdoor track and field season Coach Jen Michel helped Western Colorado men’s team earn five All-American honors over four events, having a total of five athletes – Tyler Nord, Simon Kelati, Albert Hesse, Michael Grabowski, Jacob Hernandez – qualified in individual events. Two of those athletes – Nord, Kelati – qualifying in multiple distance events. Every athlete who earned All-American honors outperformed their pre-race rankings.
Her distance athletes also had success during the conference season, Nord being awarded the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference outdoor freshman of the year. Additionally, she had nine athletes earn All-Conference first or second team honors at the RMAC conference meet, one being an RMAC Champion in their event.