U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)
Throughout the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field season, it was clear that Amy Regan, Josh Thorson and Luke Winder were on another level compared to their peers.
And let’s not forget Kim Gallavan, who proved to be a big-time competitor this past weekend at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in Grinnell, Iowa.
Regan, Thorson and Winder didn’t shy away from the spotlight either.
Between them, Gallavan, Regan, Thorson and Winder combined for seven individual titles and two meet records inside the Charles Benson Bear ’39 Recreation and Athletic Center.
So it’s only fitting that Gallavan, Regan, Thorson and Winder each earned Outstanding Performer of the Meet honors for their efforts.
Each year the USTFCCCA honors the Outstanding Performers of the Meet at both of the national Division III championships. Winners are determined using a formula that takes into account team points scored, plus meet records (five additional points), Division III season bests based on the converted qualifying lists (three points) and facility records (one point). Relay points, if applicable, are split equally between the four team members.
Gallavan, a senior from Auburn Township, Ohio, was named the Women’s Field Outstanding Performer of the Meet — and justifiably so.
With Baldwin Wallace needing as many points as possible from a small contingent in Iowa, Gallavan delivered 20 of them. Gallavan won the shot put with a heave of 14.71m (48-3¼) and captured the weight throw title with a facility record throw of 19.10m (62-8).
Thanks to Gallavan’s production, the Yellow Jackets went on to win the women’s team title, their first in program history.
Regan, a senior from Green Brook, New Jersey, made history this past weekend and earned the title of Women’s Track Outstanding Performer of the Meet.
After running one of the fastest 5000 times in DIII history earlier this season, the Stevens Institute senior set a meet record in the 3000 (9:30.80) on her way to an individual crown. Needless to say, the competition stood not chance against Regan in the 5000 the previous night (16:48.62, won by nine seconds) as she would complete the distance double.
Like Regan, Thorson doubled up on distance titles. Thorson, a senior from Plymouth, Minnesota, won the 3000 and 5000 and was named the Men’s Track Outstanding Performer of the Meet.
On Friday night, Thorson beat Williams’ Colin Cotton to the line by eight seconds in the 5000 (14:16.46). Then the following afternoon, Thorson pulled away to take the 3000 title in 8:25.25. Thorson’s time in the 5000 was a DIII season best.
UW-Eau Claire went on to win its second consecutive team title.
Winder, a sophomore from Joilet, Illinois, vaulted his way into the record book and for that was named Men’s Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet.
He cleared 5.52m (18-1¼) to move into second on the all-time DIII chart. Winder also set a facility record and meet record in the process, and cemented his national lead.
