Division II Region Award Winners
NEW ORLEANS – Cal State L.A.’s Josh Como has been named the Division II West Region Field Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the organization announced on Monday.
The voting was done by the division’s track and field coaches. The USTFCCCA named top track athletes, field athletes, head coaches and assistant coaches in each region. Chico State middle distance runner Michael Wickman was the Men’s Track Athlete of the Year, Jessica Pixler of Seattle Pacific was the Women’s Track Athlete of the Year and Linda Rainwater of UC San Diego was the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year for the West Region.
Como, who will be competing in four events this week at the NCAA Division II Championships, is the Division II leader in the triple jump with a mark of 54-7.25. That mark is the fifth-best all-time in Division II and is second in all of college this year. Only Christian Taylor of Division I Florida (54-8.75) has a better mark this season. Como’s mark is No. 2 all-time at Cal State L.A., just one-half inch off the school record of 54-7.75 set by Stan Oporski.
Como is one of a handful of Division II student-athletes to be listed among those to watch for The Bowerman, which is awarded each year to the top male collegiate athlete and to the top female collegiate athlete in the track and field.
In addition, Como has the ninth-best mark in the long jump (24-3) heading into nationals. Como is also a part of Cal State L.A.’s 4x100 relay team that enters the nationals with the third-fastest qualifying time in the nation (40.67).
Como won California Collegiate Athletic Association championships in the triple jump and 4x100 relay and took second in the long jump.
The 2010 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships will begin on Thursday in Charlotte, N.C.