NEW ORLEANS - The United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2019 All-Region award winners Tuesday afternoon. Adams State Track & Field was well represented with 20 total athletes making the list.
The Grizzlies has 12 women and eight men make the list for their performances this past indoor season. The team is coming off a solid performance at the RMAC Indoor Championships that saw the women claim the conference crown for the 24th time in program history. The men tied for fourth overall.
Making the list for the women were
Kaylee Bogina (3000 and 5000),
Tiffany Christensen (Mile and 3000),
Stephanie Cotter (Mile and DMR),
Eilish Flanagan (3000, 5000, and DMR),
Roisin Flanagan (Mile and DMR),
Malena Grover (5000),
Haleigh Hunter-Galvan (DMR),
Dianna Johnson (60 and 200),
Malakah Martinez (400),
Katherine Smith (Pentathlon),
Kandace Thomas (60, 200, and Long Jump), and
Oweneika Watson (60 Hurdles).
The quartet of Cotter, the Flanagan twins, and Hunter-Galvan also earned the honor as the Top Region Performer in the Distance Medley relay for the South Central Region. Also earning Top Region Performer accolades were
Eilish Flanagan (5000),
Roisin Flanagan (Mile and 3000), Thomas (60, 200, and Long Jump), and Watson (60 Hurdles).
On the men's side, the All-Region selections were
Kale Adams (DMR),
Austin Anaya (Mile and 3000),
Elias Gedyon (Mile, 3000, and DMR),
Sydney Gidabuday (3000, 5000, and DMR),
Dalton Graham (5000),
Ian Kerr (200),
Augustine Larranga (DMR), amd
Sam Reid (Shot Put).
Gedyon was named the South Central Region's Top Performer in the Mile, while Gidabuday earned the honor for both the 3000 and 5000. Also joining this list was Kerr in the 200 and Reid in Shot Put.
The USTFCCCA also released its sixth set top-25 national rankings of the regular season on Tuesday afternoon. The Grizzlies once again owned the top spot for both men and women.
For the men, it is the fourth straight week Adams State has sat atop the national rankings. This marks the longest consecutive stretch Adams State's men have been No. 1 since holding it for five weeks in a row during the 2016 indoor season.
One team made its way back into the top-five with this week's rankings have some changes. Ashland still stands pat at No. 2, while Tiffin moves up one spot to No. 3. Climbing back into the top-five is Central Missouri at No. 4 after being No. 7 a week ago. Grand Valley State slipped two spots to No. 5 this week to round out the top-five.
Five other RMAC schools are ranked in the top-25 in Colorado School of Mines (No. 6), Western Colorado (No. 7), CSU-Pueblo (No. 20), Colorado Mesa (No. 21), and Chadron State (No. 23).
On the women's side, the Grizzlies are ranked first for the third straight week. Helping the Grizzlies maintain their No. 1 weekend was a superb performance at the RMAC Indoor Championships as the team won the conference title.
The top-three remained unchanged this week with Grand Valley State and Lincoln (Mo.) sitting No.2 and No. 3, respectively. Missouri South made a big lep to join the top-five. The team moved up five spots to sit third this week. San Francisco State fell one spot to sit fifth this week and round out the top-five.
Just one other RMAC school joins Adams State in the top-25 rankings in UCCS. The Mountain Lions are ranked sixth in this week's rankings.
