Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference announced its 2024 Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Major Awards alongside its all-conference rosters on Wednesday. Adams State’s Gracie Hyde takes home Track Athlete of the Year honors, while University of Colorado Colorado Springs’ Audrey Bloomquist is the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. New Mexico Highlands’ Ashley Barrett claims the Freshman of the Year honors, while Colorado School of Mines’ Matt Sparks is the RMAC Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Coach of the Year.

Hyde captures the 2024 RMAC Women’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year honor after entering her name in the NCAA Division II record books. The graduate student broke the NCAA DII record in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Her time of 9:28.17 was nearly 12 seconds faster than the previous record, held by former Adams State great Eilish Flanagan. Hyde’s mark was not only the fastest time in DII this season, but the second fastest in DI, and a USA Track & Field Olympic Trial qualifying time. Hyde also broke the NCAA DII record in the 1500m with a time of 4:08.95, finishing nearly two seconds faster than the previous record.

Bloomquist claims the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year honor following another dominant season for the Mountain Lions. The redshirt senior’s season was highlighted by her performance at the RMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where she recorded two first-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump, and a pair of second-place finishes in the 100m dash and 4x100m relay. Bloomquist earned 30 points for the Mountain Lions and the Dr. Randy Rhine Outdoor Track & Field Co-Performer of the Meet Award.

Barrett wins the Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Freshman of the Year distinction after a dashing freshman year for the Cowgirls. Barrett shined at the 2024 RMAC Championships, where she earned three first-place finishes in the 100m dash, 200m dash and 4x100m relay. The freshman also crossed the finish line in second place in the 4x400m relay, boosting her point total to 24.5 for the conference championships. Her performance at the Championships also earned her the Dr. Randy Rhine Outdoor Track & Field Co-Performer of the Meet.

Sparks claims his first RMAC Women’s Track & Field Coach of the Year Award following a historic season for the Orediggers. Sparks led the Orediggers’ women’s program to their first RMAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship in program history. With 144 points, Colorado School of Mines ran away with the RMAC title, beating the second-place team by 21 points.

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