OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has released its annual regional athletes and coaches of the year awards for outdoor track and field and among the list of honorees includes sophomore Emma Wilson and assistant coach Lauren Johnson.

Wilson was named the Great Lakes Region Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. She is currently ranked first nationally in the 1500 at 4:24.66 and second in the 5000 at 16:06.69.

The Greencastle native was a two-time Crossroads League champion. In addition to winning the 1500, Wilson teamed up with Hannah Wappes, Jessica Chojnacki and Aspen Dirr to run away from the competition in the 4×800 meter relay by clocking in at 9:16.80 which proves the top time in the NAIA.

Johnson was voted the Great Lakes Region Men’s Track & Field Assistant Coach of the Year for her work as the middle-distance coach at Huntington. She coached 12 athletes to national-qualifying marks in seven events. Bolstered by ranked event squads in the 1500 and 5000 meters, her athletes contributed 70 of 90 points the Foresters scored at the Crossroads League Championships.

The HU men have been ranked fourth in the last two NAIA Men’s Outdoor Track & Field National Rating Index as released by the USTFCCCA.

The pair were also honored regionally in cross country by the USTFCCCA this year. Wilson was tabbed the Great Lakes Region Women’s Athlete of the Year while Johnson was voted the Great Lakes Region Men’s Coach of the Year.

Wilson received a third USATFCCCA badge having recently been named the 2020 Cross Country Women’s Athlete of the Year after claiming the individual title at the NAIA National Championships in April.