REGIONAL AWARD WINNERS | ALL-REGION LISTS | WOMEN'S RATING INDEX | MEN'S RATING INDEX

NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year and All-Region honorees this week for the 2021 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field season. Christian Noble and Celine Ritter were named the South Region Track Athletes of the Year, while head coach Caleb Morgan was selected the South Region Women's Coach of the Year.

Noble set NCAA DII records in back-to-back weeks to make his mark on the 2021 season. He set divisional records in the 3000 (7:51.46) and 5000 (13:37.39). He also notched the fourth-fastest mile in divisional history at 4:00.60. He was All-Region and was the top regional performer in each event.

Ritter broke a 36-year-old divisional record in the 3000-meter run with a time of 9:11.41 (converted to 9:06.73 due to track size) at the Camel City Invitational. She is also ranked first nationally in the mile at 4:44.95. She earned All-Region in the 3000-meter, mile and 800-meter run with top region marks in the 3000 and mile events.

Morgan has the Lady Flames currently ranked at No. 20 in the USTFCCCA National Rating Index and No. 1 in the South Region. The Lady Flames won the Gulf South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships with six event wins and have three qualifiers for the national championships. The Lady Flames were rated as high as No. 5 this season. The Flames are sitting at No. 6 after starting the season at No. 3 in the rating index.

Joining Noble and Ritter were 25 more Flames and Lady Flames to earn All-Region in at least one event. A total of 1,311 athletes form 99 different institutions earned All-Region honors nationwide with 650 honorees coming from the men's side and an additional 661 from the women's teams.

Siphosethu Boya, Caleb Campbell and Wynand Du Toit earned All-Region in the 200, 400 and 4x400-meter relay. They were joined by Jeremiah McCain in the 4x400 to post the top time in the region in the event. Du Toit also was the top regional performer in the 200 and 400. McCain added another All-Region honor in the 60-meter hurdles.

Titus Lagat was All-Region in the 800 and mile with top regional performer designation in the 800. Cameron Stine earned All-Region in the high jump and 60-meter hurdles. Teagan Lenox was also All-Region in the high jump.

Caleb Eagleson (5000), Daniel Surman (pole vault) and Ian Thomas (60) rounded out the 11 Flames to earn All-Region.

Toni Moore, Chloe Flora and Olivia McLain each earned All-Region in the 3000 and 5000 with Moore the top regional performer in the 5000.

The Lady Flames distance medley relay team of Elizabeth Backham, Mikayla Beeler, Elizabeth Heckman and Jamaya Rand posted All-Region performances. Beeler, Rand, Carissa Hall and Brooke Long were also All-Region in the 4x400 relay. Beeler added All-Region honors in the 400, while Hall and Long were All-Region in the triple jump.

Kristen Blevins and Deborah Rubin were the final Lady Flames to earn All-Region in multiple events. Blevins earned the title in the 60 and 200 events. Rubin was All-Region and the top regional performer in the weight throw and All-Region in the shot put. Baylie Murphy joined Blevins as All-Region in the 60 and Faith Lewis joined Rubin on the All-Region list in the shot put.

Rounding out the All-Region honors for the Lady Flames were Liezl Theron in the high jump and Hannah Wright in the 60-meter hurdles.

To earn All-Region honors, an athlete must be one of the top-5 individuals in their events in their respective region. In addition, each member of a region's top-3 relay team was selected for the distinction. Top Regional Performers (TRPs) are denoted with an asterisk.

The eight regions used in NCAA DII are the Atlantic Region, Central Region, East Region, Midwest Region, South Region, South Central Region, Southeast Region and West Region.

Also, only athletes from USTFCCCA member institutions are eligible for the award.