Division II Cross Country Announced National Awards
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announce on Tuesday that NCAA Division II Cross Country Champions Ryan Haebe of Western State and Neely Spence of Shippensburg were named as National Athletes of the Year for the 2011 cross country season. In adding, Western State’s Jennifer Michel was standard as the National Men’s Coach of the Year while Tracy Hellman of Augustana (S.D.) was named the National Women’s Coach of the Year.
NATIONAL MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ryan Haebe, Western State
Haebe, a sophomore from Evergreen, Colo., won the NCAA Division II person men’s title in 30:45.1, three seconds ahead of colleague Tyler Pennel.
Haebe became the first entity national champion for the Mountaineer men since 2001, and only the second student-athlete in Western State history to win a men’s cross country national championship. Michael Aish won national titles in 1999 and 2001.
Earlier in the fall, Haebe positioned fourth in the RMAC Championships, helping the team to the meeting title. Haebe did not take part in the NCAA Central Regional.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Neely Spence, Shippensburg
Spence, a senior from Shippensburg, Pa., won her second-consecutive Division II national championship with a 13-second triumph over the field and a 6K time of 20:53. Spence led for the majority of the race, gradually increasing her lead as the runners spread out through the frozen tundra.
Earlier in the season, Spence capture her fourth-straight Atlantic Region top and won the region this season by nearly a full minute with a 20:43 performance in the 6k. Spence also became the first in PSAC history to win four-straight league cross country crowns.
NATIONAL MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Jennifer Michel, Western State
Michel’s Mountaineers engineered their first NCAA men’s cross country team crown since 2005 with a leading victory at the NCAA Championships. Western State tally just 27 points, placing their top five runners in the race’s top 13. Sophomore Ryan Haebe and senior Tyler Pennel ended the race 1-2, senior David Goodman placed fifth, senior Gabriel Proctor took seventh, and sophomore Trevor Blackman came in 13th.
For Michel, in her fifth year at the helm, Western State won their first RMAC title since 2004 and located second in the NCAA Central Regional.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Tracy Hellman, Augustana (S.D.)
Hellman’s squad won their first NCAA title in women’s cross country with a 75-79 victory over adjacent challenger Western State. Entering the meet as the No. 5 team in the nation, the Vikings wedged to the plan and stuck jointly as the scoring crew of five would earn overall places of 12, 13, 15, 17, and 29. Junior Leah Hansen led the group; follow by sophomore Runa Falch, sophomore Kristin Brondbo, junior Kyle Blakeslee, and senior Kelly Kougl.
The Vikings earlier in the season won their fifth-straight discussion meet as they took the NSIC title. They were third in the NCAA Central Regional.
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NATIONAL MEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Ryan Haebe, Western State
Haebe, a sophomore from Evergreen, Colo., won the NCAA Division II person men’s title in 30:45.1, three seconds ahead of colleague Tyler Pennel.
Haebe became the first entity national champion for the Mountaineer men since 2001, and only the second student-athlete in Western State history to win a men’s cross country national championship. Michael Aish won national titles in 1999 and 2001.
Earlier in the fall, Haebe positioned fourth in the RMAC Championships, helping the team to the meeting title. Haebe did not take part in the NCAA Central Regional.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: Neely Spence, Shippensburg
Spence, a senior from Shippensburg, Pa., won her second-consecutive Division II national championship with a 13-second triumph over the field and a 6K time of 20:53. Spence led for the majority of the race, gradually increasing her lead as the runners spread out through the frozen tundra.
Earlier in the season, Spence capture her fourth-straight Atlantic Region top and won the region this season by nearly a full minute with a 20:43 performance in the 6k. Spence also became the first in PSAC history to win four-straight league cross country crowns.
NATIONAL MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Jennifer Michel, Western State
Michel’s Mountaineers engineered their first NCAA men’s cross country team crown since 2005 with a leading victory at the NCAA Championships. Western State tally just 27 points, placing their top five runners in the race’s top 13. Sophomore Ryan Haebe and senior Tyler Pennel ended the race 1-2, senior David Goodman placed fifth, senior Gabriel Proctor took seventh, and sophomore Trevor Blackman came in 13th.
For Michel, in her fifth year at the helm, Western State won their first RMAC title since 2004 and located second in the NCAA Central Regional.
NATIONAL WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR: Tracy Hellman, Augustana (S.D.)
Hellman’s squad won their first NCAA title in women’s cross country with a 75-79 victory over adjacent challenger Western State. Entering the meet as the No. 5 team in the nation, the Vikings wedged to the plan and stuck jointly as the scoring crew of five would earn overall places of 12, 13, 15, 17, and 29. Junior Leah Hansen led the group; follow by sophomore Runa Falch, sophomore Kristin Brondbo, junior Kyle Blakeslee, and senior Kelly Kougl.
The Vikings earlier in the season won their fifth-straight discussion meet as they took the NSIC title. They were third in the NCAA Central Regional.
