2017 USTFCCCA Outdoor Regional Award Winners

NEW ORLEANS -- Academy of Art University sophomore Mobolade Ajomale earned his third career West Region Track Athlete of the Year honor on Tuesday as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

"Bolade has been very consistent this season and it has been a pleasure to watch his maturation as an athlete this year," said head coach Kevin LaSure. "He has worked really hard this season to improve on some of his weaknesses within his races and it has paid major dividends. Being ranked No. 1 in the West Region in the 100m and 200m as well as helping lead two relays is no easy feat. He has truly earned this recognition."

Each of the regions, which are the same as those used during the Division II cross country season, honored both genders' top track athletes and field athletes and the top men's and women's head coaches and assistant coaches. Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.

With the start of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships on the horizon this Thursday, Olympic bronze medalist Ajomale, who came off being named USTFCCCA DII Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after indoor titles in the 60m and 200m, is set to compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m, and 4x400m for Academy of Art this week. The Richmond Hill, Canada native rose to No. 1 in the country in the 200m after dropping a 20.67 en route to his second consecutive PacWest Conference title in the event. In the 100m, Ajomale ran a 10.29 in his first outdoor meet, Sacramento State's Hornet Invitational on Mar. 18, to complete the regular season ranked third in the country. He also posted a personal best in the 400m, going 47.46 at the Oxy Invitational on May 6.

Anchor to both ART U relays, Ajomale and his 4x100m teammates enter Nationals with the 16th-fastest time (40.67) in the country after running 40.67 at Oxy. In the 4x400m, the Urban Knights are seventh in Division II thanks to a 3:10.87 that led them to another PacWest Championship.

Ajomale, along with many of the other honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships coming up this weekend, May 25-27, in Bradenton, Florida at the IMG Academy. Portions of the meet will be streamed online live at NCAA.org and more information can be found at the USTFCCCA's National Championships Central page.