Full Release
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The 2018 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Outdoor Track and Field All-Conference teams and major award winners were announced on Wednesday by the conference office.
The major awards were voted on by the conference’s head coaches following the completion of the RMAC Championship. First Team All-RMAC consists of the top three individual finishers from each event and the first-place relay teams from the RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Second Team All-RMAC consists of the fourth, fifth and sixth-place individual finishers, along with the second-place relay teams.
For the women, UCCS’ Skylyn Webb was named Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. During the indoor season, Webb was named the Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year as well. Webb set an automatic qualifying mark and in the 800-meter with a time of 2:04.57, which also leads the NCAA Division II. Webb was crowned RMAC Champion in the 400-meter dash and anchored the Mountain Lions’ 4x400-meter relay, claiming a third-place finish during the outdoor track and field championships.
Annie Topal of New Mexico Highlands earned Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year. Topal was crowned RMAC Champion in the women’s triple jump with a leap of 12.82 meters and claimed third in the long jump during the outdoor track and field championships.
Colorado School of Mines’ Gina Coleman garners Freshman of the Year. Coleman earned a top-place finish to claim the RMAC individual title in the discus throw and placed third in the hammer throw.
New Mexico Highlands’ Bob DeVries earned Women’s Coach of the Year following his team’s first-place team victory during the RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
For the men, the ThunderWolves’ Thomas Staines garners the Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year honor. Staines set an NCAA Division II leading and automatic qualifying time of 1:47.55 in the 800-meter to claim the RMAC individual title in addition to anchoring the Pack’s 4x400-meter relay which claimed first place and set a new RMAC championship record with a time of 3:11.84 during the RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Staines also ranks fifth nationally in the men’s 400-meter dash.
Isaac Grimes of Chadron State was named the Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year and Freshman of the Year. Grimes claimed the RMAC individual titles in the long jump (7.77m) and triple jump (15.15m) during the RMAC outdoor championships.
Colorado School of Mines’ Matt Sparks garners the Men’s Coach of the Year honor. Sparks coached the Orediggers to their first-ever outdoor men's team championship in program history. The Orediggers also claimed the men's cross country and men's indoor team titles earlier this year as well under Sparks' direction.