(Sioux Center, Iowa) The United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches’ Association has announced its Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Season and Dordt had three honorees.
Payton Mauldin (Junior; George, Iowa) was named the Midwest Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and enters the NAIA Outdoor Championships as the top-ranked athlete in the 800 meters at 1:49.07. He scored 22.5 points at the GPAC Outdoor Championships thanks to victories in the 400 meters and 800 meters while also anchoring the 4×400 relay. Mauldin was named the GPAC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Meet for his performance at the GPAC Championship.
Craig Heynen earned the Midwest Region Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year honors while leading the Defenders to a no. 4 NAIA ranking, the program’s first-ever outdoor GPAC championship, five events rated in the top-10 of NAIA and eight event titles at the GPAC Championship.
While handling Dordt’s distance runners, Nate Wolf was named the Midwest Region Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Assistant Coach of the Year. Wolf handles the Dordt distance runners with those athletes claiming three GPAC men’s titles. Dordt athletes are ranked fifth in the NAIA in the 5,000 meters and steeplechase.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
