NEW ORLEANS . . . Five individuals with connections to the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) — two athletes and three coaches — are among the 72 athletes, assistant coaches, and head coaches that received regional awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Wednesday for their efforts during the 2010 indoor track & field season in NCAA’s Division III as voted by the nation’s coaches.
The awards will be presented at a banquet March 11 at Greencastle, Ind., site of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships this weekend.
Central Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year – Russell Harris, Wartburg College
Harris heads into the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships with the sixth-fastest time in the 55-meter hurdles, a personal best of 7.55. Earlier this season, Harris won the IIAC indoor title in the event. He is a senior from La Grange, Ill.
Central Region Men’s Field Athlete of the Year – Ethan Miller, Central College
Miller enters the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships with the fourth-best pentathlon score of 3,713 points. Earlier this season, he was named the IIAC Most Valuable Performer after he won the high jump, long jump, and pentathlon, placed third in the triple jump, and placed fourth in the pole vault to score a total of 40.5 points for the Dutch. Miller is a sophomore from Seymour, Ia.
Central Region Women's Head Coach of the Year – Marcus Newsom, Wartburg College
Newsom, in his 12th year with Wartburg led his team to a No. 1 national ranking and will compete a meet-high 13 competitors at the upcoming NCAA Championships. The Knights won their eighth-consecutive IIAC title this year and at the conference meet, Wartburg had 11 champions that toppled seven conference records.
Central Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Guy Mosher, Central College
Mosher was directly responsible for 153.85 points to lead Central College to an IIAC victory and an 11th position on the national ranking. Among his sprinters, jumpers and hurdlers, Mosher’s crew was responsible for eight provisional marks.
Central Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year – Dave Sage, Wartburg College
Sage’s coaching responsibilities in his eighth year with the Knights include the guidance of national long jump leader Skye Morrison. Morrison is also entered into the NCAA Championships as the third seed in the triple jump. Wartburg also qualified pentathlete Brittany Melloy for the NCAA meet under Sage’s tutelage.
Complete USTFCCCA release
