NEW ORLEANS, La. – Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season were announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Each of the five regions – Great Lakes, Midwest, South, South Central and West – honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes as well as the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Marian earned an NAIA-best six honors, as head coach Katie Wise was named as the Great Lakes Region Head Coach of the Year for both men and women, earning the program's first women's coach of the year honor. Wise's assistant coaches, Presley Martin and Mychal Vinson, were each named as the Great Lakes Region Assistant Coach of the Year, with Martin earning the women's coaching honor while Vinson was scored the men's assistant coach honor. Christian Rios was named as the Great Lakes Field Athlete of the Year, and Katie Woods was named as the Great Lakes Track Athlete of the Year.
GREAT LAKES REGION Men's Field Athlete of the Year – Christian Rios – Marian (Ind.)
Rios, who hails from Highland, Indiana, is currently ranked top-5 nationally in both the shot put and weight throw. Both of his season bests came in winning efforts at the Crossroads League Championships: 19.02m (62-5) in the weight throw; 17.09m (56-1) in the shot put.
GREAT LAKES REGION Men's Head Coach of the Year– Katie Wise – Marian (Ind.)
Wise, in her first year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with a meet-record 315 points, winning 13 events. Marian accumulated qualifiers to the national championships in 16 events with top-10 rankings in 10 events.
GREAT LAKES REGION Men's Assistant Coach of the Year – Mychal Vinson – Marian (Ind.)
Vinson, in his fourth year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), coached the Knights' mid-distance/distance athletes to win seven events at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships. Marian has three top-3 #EventSquad Rankings, led by the No. 1 group in the 600 meters, and has the No. 2-ranked relay teams in the 4×400 and distance medley, with the 4×800 at No. 3.
GREAT LAKES REGION Women's Track Athlete of the Year – Katie Woods – Marian (Ind.)
Woods, who hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana, is ranked among the nation's top-15 athletes in four individual events, including top marks in the mile (4:51.20) and 800 meters (2:11.47). She also carries the baton for the nation's top-ranked DMR and second-ranked 4×800 relay. Woods scored 22.5 points at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with victories in the 1000 meters, mile, as well as a tote on the winning DMR.
GREAT LAKES REGION Women's Head Coach of the Year – Katie Wise – Marian (Ind.)
Wise, in her first year as Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Marian (Ind.), led the Knights to the team title at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships with a meet-record 248 points, winning 10 events. Marian, which is ranked No. 2 nationally, has national qualifiers in 15 events, including three events ranking No. 1.
GREAT LAKES REGION – Presley Martin – Marian (Ind.)
Martin, in his third year as assistant coach at Marian (Ind.), coached the Knights' mid-distance/distance athletes to four event wins and 56 points at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships. His athletes have No. 1 rankings in the 800, mile and distance medley relay along with a No. 3 #EventSquad Ranking in the 800.
MUKnights.com: Your online source for Marian Athletics, tickets, multimedia, Knight merchandise, photos and more.
