West Texas A&M University Men's Track

Flowers is currently in his seventh year as the head coach of the West Texas A&M men's and women's track & field programs in the spring of 2016, Darren Flowers also serves as the head coach for the Buffaloes' men's cross country program. Flowers led the WT program to new heights during the 2015-16 athletic season  as the Buffs finished a program-best fourth in the USTFCCCCA Program of the Year rankings. The year got off to a strong start as the Buffs won their third-consecutive Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships before finishing 18th at the NCAA Championships. He was named LSC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. WT kept that momentum going in to the spring where the Lady Buffs won their third-consecutive title. The Buffs finished 16th at the NCAA Championships including the runner-up in the distance medley relay while the Lady Buffs finished 19th. The Lady Buffs had a historic outdoor season as they reached as high as No. 3 in the weekly USTFCCCA rankings before winning their first-ever outdoor team title and finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships. The Buffs had a historic NCAA meet finishing eighth which included Duke Kicinski winning WTs first individual national title after a huge personal-best in the discus competition. Flowers continued to make historical marks through the 2014-'15 athletics season. Beginning in the fall, he led the Buff cross country team to a second-straight Lone Star Conference championship while the team went on to finish a program-best 11th at the NCAA Championship. During the spring, he also coached the Lady Buff indoor team to a second-consecutive title as well. At the NCAA Indoor Championship, both teams would achieve program-best finishes as the Buffs placed 22nd and the Lady Buffs placed 14th. The women would also come in 20th at the outdoor meet, the highest ever as well. At the conclusion of the season, the men's overall program would record another program best, finishing eighth in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year rankings. In 2013-2014, Flowers led the men's cross country team as well as the men's and women's indoor track & field teams to their first LSC titles in program history. Additionally, upon completion of the academic year, both the men's and women's track & field/cross country programs achieved strong finishes in the Program of Year Rankings as the Buffs were 15th and the Lady Buffs a best-ever eighth. During his tenure at WT, Flowers has coached 81 First-Team All-Americans and 91 individual LSC champions. In just the programs' first year of reinstatement since 1986, Flowers developed a program which saw the women place third and the men's squad fourth in the final team standings at the 2010 Lone Star Conference meet. Since starting the program in 2009-10, WT has made the move from a start-up program to an annual contender in the LSC Title race and a staple in the NCAA National Championships. On October 9, 2008, Flowers was named as the head track & field coach at West Texas A&M. It was under his guidance that the University reinstated both men's and women's track & field at the intercollegiate level. Flowers had enjoyed previous success working with both WTAMU's strength & conditioning as well as serving as an assistant coach with the men's cross country program. He began his career in 2005 as a distance coach for Pantheon Sports Performance. He also served as an assistant coach at Moore (Okla.) High School, coaching both distance and sprint events in 2006 and 2007. Flowers has an extensive background of over 15 years in the sport of track & field as either a competitor, an official or coach and holds a USA Track and Field Level II certification in distance events (800m-Marathon). He played football as a running back and return specialist at the Univ. of Tulsa until an injury shortened his career. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Management from Kaplan University in 2007. In 2008, Flowers received his Master's degree in Business Administration from WTAMU. A native of Moore, Okla., Flowers, resides in Canyon, Texas with his wife Kristen and two children, Leah and Koen.. Accomplishments at West Texas A&M From 2009-2016: 81 NCAA Division II First-Team All-Americans 91 Individual/Event Lone Star Conference Champions 2014 LSC Men's Indoor T&F Champions 2014, 2015 & 2016 Women's Indoor T&F Champions 2016 Women's Outdoor T&F Champions 2014 LSC Men's & Women's Indoor T&F Coach of the Year, USTFCCCA South Central Region Men's Indoor Head Coach of the Year 2015 & 2016 LSC Women's Indoor T&F Coach of the Year 2016 LSC Women's Outdoor T&F Coach of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 LSC Men's Cross Country Coach of The Year 2015 NCAA DII Men's Indoor Finish: T-22nd 2012 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Finish: 13th 2014 NCAA DII Men's Cross Country FInish: 11th, Highest in program's history 2015 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Finish: T-14th, Highest in program's history 2015 NCAA DII Women's Outdoor Finish: 20th 2015 NCAA DII Men's Cross Country Finish: 18th, First Individual All-American 2016 NCAA DII Men's Indoor Finish: T-16th, Highest in program history 2016 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Finish: 19th, Four All-Americans 2016 NCAA DII Women's Outdoor Finish: 4th, Highest in program history 2016 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Finish: 8th, Highest in program history 2016 Program of the Year: 4th, Highest in program history 2012 LSC Cross Country Women 1st/Men 2nd, Individual Womens Champion (Brenda Sindet)/Mens Runner-Up (Dylan Doss) 2013 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 1st, Individual Men's Champion (Dylan Doss) 2014 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 2nd, Individual Women's Champion (Emma Love) 2015 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 7th, Individual Men's Champion (Geoffrey Kipchumba) Darren Flowers Head Track & Field/Cross Country Coach Flowers is currently in his seventh year as the head coach of the West Texas A&M men's and women's track & field programs in the spring of 2016, Darren Flowers also serves as the head coach for the Buffaloes' men's cross country program. Flowers led the WT program to new heights during the 2015-16 athletic season  as the Buffs finished a program-best fourth in the USTFCCCCA Program of the Year rankings. The year got off to a strong start as the Buffs won their third-consecutive Lone Star Conference Cross Country Championships before finishing 18th at the NCAA Championships. He was named LSC Coach of the Year for the fourth consecutive season. WT kept that momentum going in to the spring where the Lady Buffs won their third-consecutive title. The Buffs finished 16th at the NCAA Championships including the runner-up in the distance medley relay while the Lady Buffs finished 19th. The Lady Buffs had a historic outdoor season as they reached as high as No. 3 in the weekly USTFCCCA rankings before winning their first-ever outdoor team title and finishing fourth at the NCAA Championships. The Buffs had a historic NCAA meet finishing eighth which included Duke Kicinski winning WTs first individual national title after a huge personal-best in the discus competition. Flowers continued to make historical marks through the 2014-'15 athletics season. Beginning in the fall, he led the Buff cross country team to a second-straight Lone Star Conference championship while the team went on to finish a program-best 11th at the NCAA Championship. During the spring, he also coached the Lady Buff indoor team to a second-consecutive title as well. At the NCAA Indoor Championship, both teams would achieve program-best finishes as the Buffs placed 22nd and the Lady Buffs placed 14th. The women would also come in 20th at the outdoor meet, the highest ever as well. At the conclusion of the season, the men's overall program would record another program best, finishing eighth in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year rankings. In 2013-2014, Flowers led the men's cross country team as well as the men's and women's indoor track & field teams to their first LSC titles in program history. Additionally, upon completion of the academic year, both the men's and women's track & field/cross country programs achieved strong finishes in the Program of Year Rankings as the Buffs were 15th and the Lady Buffs a best-ever eighth. During his tenure at WT, Flowers has coached 81 First-Team All-Americans and 91 individual LSC champions. In just the programs' first year of reinstatement since 1986, Flowers developed a program which saw the women place third and the men's squad fourth in the final team standings at the 2010 Lone Star Conference meet. Since starting the program in 2009-10, WT has made the move from a start-up program to an annual contender in the LSC Title race and a staple in the NCAA National Championships. On October 9, 2008, Flowers was named as the head track & field coach at West Texas A&M. It was under his guidance that the University reinstated both men's and women's track & field at the intercollegiate level. Flowers had enjoyed previous success working with both WTAMU's strength & conditioning as well as serving as an assistant coach with the men's cross country program. He began his career in 2005 as a distance coach for Pantheon Sports Performance. He also served as an assistant coach at Moore (Okla.) High School, coaching both distance and sprint events in 2006 and 2007. Flowers has an extensive background of over 15 years in the sport of track & field as either a competitor, an official or coach and holds a USA Track and Field Level II certification in distance events (800m-Marathon). He played football as a running back and return specialist at the Univ. of Tulsa until an injury shortened his career. He received his bachelor's degree in Business Management from Kaplan University in 2007. In 2008, Flowers received his Master's degree in Business Administration from WTAMU. A native of Moore, Okla., Flowers, resides in Canyon, Texas with his wife Kristen and two children, Leah and Koen.. Accomplishments at West Texas A&M From 2009-2016: 81 NCAA Division II First-Team All-Americans 91 Individual/Event Lone Star Conference Champions 2014 LSC Men's Indoor T&F Champions 2014, 2015 & 2016 Women's Indoor T&F Champions 2016 Women's Outdoor T&F Champions 2014 LSC Men's & Women's Indoor T&F Coach of the Year, USTFCCCA South Central Region Men's Indoor Head Coach of the Year 2015 & 2016 LSC Women's Indoor T&F Coach of the Year 2016 LSC Women's Outdoor T&F Coach of the Year 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 LSC Men's Cross Country Coach of The Year 2015 NCAA DII Men's Indoor Finish: T-22nd 2012 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Finish: 13th 2014 NCAA DII Men's Cross Country FInish: 11th, Highest in program's history 2015 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Finish: T-14th, Highest in program's history 2015 NCAA DII Women's Outdoor Finish: 20th 2015 NCAA DII Men's Cross Country Finish: 18th, First Individual All-American 2016 NCAA DII Men's Indoor Finish: T-16th, Highest in program history 2016 NCAA DII Women's Indoor Finish: 19th, Four All-Americans 2016 NCAA DII Women's Outdoor Finish: 4th, Highest in program history 2016 NCAA DII Men's Outdoor Finish: 8th, Highest in program history 2016 Program of the Year: 4th, Highest in program history 2012 LSC Cross Country Women 1st/Men 2nd, Individual Womens Champion (Brenda Sindet)/Mens Runner-Up (Dylan Doss) 2013 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 1st, Individual Men's Champion (Dylan Doss) 2014 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 2nd, Individual Women's Champion (Emma Love) 2015 LSC Cross Country Men 1st/Women 7th, Individual Men's Champion (Geoffrey Kipchumba)

Associate Head Coach Ryan Gibson Education: • Oklahoma State (B.S. - Health and Human Performance, 2013) • Baylor (M.S. - Sports Pedagogy, 2014) Coaching Honors: • 2021 USTFCCCA Outdoor South Central Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year • 2021 USTFCCCA Indoor South Central Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year • 2020 USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year • 2020 USTFCCCA Indoor National Assistant Coach of the Year Finalist • 2019-20 'The Bucky's' Assistant Coach of the Year Certifications: USA Weightlifting Level 1  USATF Level 1  USATF Level 2- Sprints/Hurdles/Relays  USTFCCCA- Technical Certification  USTFCCCA- Jumps Event Specialist  ALTIS- Performance Therapy Certification ALTIS- Foundations Certification ALTIS- Long Jump/Triple Jump Certification ALTIS- Pole Vault Certification ALTIS- High Jump Certification ALTIS- Shot Put/Discus Certification  ALTIS- Short Sprints Certification  ALTIS- Hammer/Javelin Certification Gibson-By-The-Numbers 4 – National Champions 65 – All Americans 138 – USTFCCCA All Region Performers 118 – National Qualifiers  54 – Conference Champions  13 – School Records 3 – USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year 4 – USTFCCCA South Central Region Field Athlete of the Year 6 – LSC Field Athlete of the Year  1 – LSC Athlete of the Year Gibson will begin his 14th season of coaching entering the 2025-2026 season. This will be his 8th season in Canyon, and 5th as the Associate Head Coach.   During the 2024-2025 season, Gibson’s Multis and Jumps group saw a great deal of success, led by Romet Vahter. Vahter set school records in both the Heptathlon and Decathlon (besting the previous record held for 41 years), and earned All-American honors both Indoors and Outdoors in the Combined Events.  In addition to his success as a Multi, Romet also qualified for the Indoor National Meet in the Long Jump. This success led Vahter to earning South Central Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year Honors, as well as being named the Lone Star Conference Field Athlete of the Year.  Joseph Oreva had another outstanding season in the Long Jump, placing 5th at the Indoor National Meet, and earning National Runner Up honors during the Outdoor Season. Gibson’s Triple Jump group shined as well, with 5 different athletes qualifying for National Meets, and 2 athletes earning All American recognition.  During the Indoor Season, Leidy Cuesta, Manuel Cuesta, Gael Robles, and Anas Mirghani all qualified for the National Championships, with Anas Mirghani placing 6th.  During the Outdoor Season, Cuesta, Cuesta, Mirghani, and Audrey Uzoukwu gained National bids, with Manuel Cuesta placing 8th and becoming an All American for the first time in his career.  Gibson’s athletes contributed to the Men’s team placing 6th Indoors and 2nd Outdoors at the National stage, and the Women’s program earning 6th Indoors, and 4th during the Outdoor Season. During the 2023-2024 season, Gibson’s athletes achieved 6 All-American Honors over the course of the Indoor and Outdoor seasons, contributing to two podium finishes for the men, and two top 6 finishes for the women. Joseph Oreva, Hamdi Ali, and Miriam Zanovello all scored at the National Meets both Indoors and Outdoors, with Oreva and Ali finishing as individual runners-up outdoors In the LJ and HJ respectively. Both Oreva’s and Ali’s performance at the Outdoor National Meet broke school records. Gibson’s groups saw success as a whole during the year, with athletes qualifying for the National Meets in LJ, HJ, TJ, Heptathlon (Men), Heptathlon (Women), and the Decathlon. The Multis group in particular shined, with Laiten Greeson breaking a long-standing school record in the Heptathlon, and Gerard Bryant and Romet Vahter qualifying for the both the Indoor and Outdoor National Meets, the first time in school history that WT was represented by 2 Multi athletes on the National Level in the same meet. For the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings, Gibson had several groups achieve top marks in the country, including the Men’s Decathlon group which ranked 1st.   During the 2022-2023 season, Gibson saw his athletes earn eight All-American honors, as the Men's and Women’s’ teams earned podium finishes during both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons. Taylor Nelloms led the way for the Buffs Jump Squad with an outstanding season that included 5 All American Honors (Indoor LJ, Indoor TJ, Indoor HJ, Outdoor HJ, Outdoor TJ), and recognition as the 2023 USTFCCCA Indoor National Women’s Field Athlete of the Year. Hamdi Ali (HJ), Miriam Zanovello (TJ), and Gerard Bryant (Decathlon) also each earned All American Honors during the year.  The Lady Buffs Triple Jump group continued their streak of success, ranking first in the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings for both the Indoor and Outdoor seasons for the third year in a row, while the Lady Buffs Long Jump crew earned the top spot Outdoors for the first time.   During the 2021-2022 season, Gibson helped guide his athletes to six All-American honors, contributing to podium finishes for both the men and women’s programs for the indoor and outdoor seasons, including the 2022 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championship title. Taylor Nelloms had another outstanding season, as she earned All American Honors in the triple jump and high jump during the indoor season, and added another All-American performance in the triple jump during the outdoor season.  Newcomers Sifiso Miya and Hamdi Alamin also earned All-American honors in the long jump and high jump, respectively, during the year. The Lady Buffs triple jump group ranked first in the USTFCCCA Event Squad Rankings for both the indoor and outdoor seasons for the second consecutive year.   During the 2020-21 season, Gibson was named the USTFCCCA Outdoor South Central Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year, and the USTFCCCA Indoor South Central Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the year, while helping WT finish on the podium during the indoor and outdoor NCAA Division 2 Championships for the men’s and women’s program for the first time in program history. Taylor Nelloms became the first Lady Buff in program history to win the NCAA DII triple jump crown indoor and outdoors. The Houston native was also named the Lone Star Conference Female Field Athlete of the Year indoors after winning the long and triple jump at the championship meet. Miriam Zanovello and Flore Gracia also earned All-American honors in the triple jump.    During the 2019-2020 season, he was named a finalist for the USTFCCCA NCAA DII Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. He was named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year after Fatim Affessi was named the National Athlete of the Year for a record third time. The Lady Buffs also ranked first in the USTFCCCA Event Squad rankings in the long and triple jump. Affessi won the long and triple jump leading the Lady Buffs to their seventh straight Lone Star Conference Championship while being named the Outstanding Field Athlete. Daniela Pesic (long jump), Miriam Zanovello (triple jump), Taylor Nelloms (high jump) and Brooke Urban (high jump) also finished on the podium during the championships.   In 2019, he coached a pair of National Champions along with helping the Lady Buffs finish on the podium at the outdoor championships for the third time in the past four years. Fatim Affessi was named the USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year after winning her third straight outdoor long jump title while also finishing second in the triple jump as the Lady Buffs finished fourth at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships in Kingsville, Texas. Abraham Seaneke also shined under Gibson as the Kokrobite, Ghana native won the Buffs’ second individual national title in the long jump while finishing runner-up in the triple jump. The duo also earned All-American honors in both events at the NCAA DII Indoor Championships.     Gibson had a successful two-year stint at Tarleton State University where he coached a total of seven All-Americans. He helped Dalton Stidham earn All-American honors in the 60-meter hurdles during the 2018 indoor season and 110-meter hurdles during the 2018 outdoor season. The Texans 4x400-meter relay also earned All-American recognition for their seventh-place finish in the final. During his first season in Stephenville, he coached Rascellis Williams and Chantz Chambers to the 2017 Outdoor National Championships. Williams earned All-American honors with a third-place finish in the high jump.    Prior to his time in Canyon, he served as a volunteer assistant coach at Baylor where he worked with coach Stacey Smith in the long, triple and high jumps for the men's and women's programs.    Gibson, who hails from Duncan, Okla., ran track at Oklahoma State from 2009-11 where he competed in the 200m and 400m sprints before injuries shortened his career. He went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Health and Human Performance at OSU before getting his master's degree from Baylor in 2014. Gibson resides in Canyon with his wife Caitlin and son Rory.   Best All Time Marks for Athletes Coached by Gibson  Event   Women  Men  Indoor  Outdoor-Wind Legal  Outdoor-All Conditions  Indoor  Outdoor-Wind Legal  Outdoor-All Conditions  Long Jump  6.37*@ (20'10.25'')  6.28 (20'7.25")  6.28 (20'7.25")  7.74* (25'4.75'') 7.93* (26'.25'')  8.16 (26'9.25")  Triple Jump  13.28* (43'6.75'')  13.52* (44'4.25'')  13.52* (44'4.25'')  15.59 (51'1.75'')  16.02* (52'6.75")  16.06 (52'8.25")  High Jump   1.76 (5'9.25'')  1.81* (5'11.25'')  -  2.21* (7'3'')  2.22* (7'3.5'')  -  Multi  3635  5403*  -  5545*  7592*  -  Javelin  -  47.56* (156'0.5'')  -   -  58.00 (190'3.5'')  -  *School Record  @LSC Record

Wood just completed her first year at WT where she worked closely with the jumps and multi-event athletes. Under her guidance, three athletes earned All-American honors during the indoor and outdoor season. She helped Libby Strickland finish third in the high jump and sixth in the pentathlon at the indoor championships while Rellie Kaputin earned three All-American honors at the outdoor championships including a runner-up finish in the triple jump. Kaputin also won the triple and long jump at the Lone Star Conference Championships and was later named LSC Womens Field Athlete of the Year. She joined WT after spending last year at Limestone College, directly programming for all jumps, javelin, and multi-event athletes.  During her year with the team she helped to lead the Saints to runner up finishes for both the mens and womens teams, indoor and outdoor.  In the 2014 indoor season, she coached 3 Conference Carolinas event champions, 3 NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Award Winners, and two NCAA Division II National Qualifiers.  In the 2015 Outdoor season her athletes contributed 2 Conference Carolinas event wins in the long jump and javelin, 3 NCAA Division II All-Southeast Region Award Winners, and a National Qualifier in the mens long jump.    Prior to Limestone, Wood worked for a year at the University of Maine (2013-2014), serving as the Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach responsible for multiple teams (including track and field and cross country), as well as the Assistant Track and Field Coach, coaching the jumps, hurdles, and multi-events.  During her time at Maine, Wood helped lead the mens team to a third place finish in the America East, both indoor and outdoor, best in the programs history since the early 2000s. She coached 3 Indoor America East Champions, and an IC4A Runner-Up in the 60m hurdles.  The 2014 outdoor season saw two conference runner-up finishes (long jump and triple jump), an IC4A triple jump champion and an NCAA Division I regional qualifier, as well as a womens New England Meet Champion in the Heptathlon. All in all, between the weight room and track, her athletes broke 10 school records in the 2013-2014 year.      As a graduate student and post-collegiate athlete, Wood volunteered for two years for the University of Alabama mens and womens teams.  Directly out of college she started her coaching career at Holliston High School in Massachusetts, responsible for all jumpers and hurdlers, as well as the creation and implementation of a strength and conditioning program for the team.   Wood is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA, holds a USATF Level 1 certification, as well as a Track and Field Technical Certification through USTFCCCA and is certified by the National Pole Vault Coaches Association.  She obtained her Bachelors degree from Boston College and holds a Masters degree in Sport Management for the University of Alabama.  As a multi-event athlete herself, Wood (Riel) was an NCAA Divison I Indoor All-American, two-time ACC Runner-Up, ECAC Pentathlon Champion, and is the New England Record Holder in the Heptathlon.  

Assistant Coach Randy Denham Education: • West Texas A&M (B.S. - Biology, Education, 1979) Denham-By-The-Numbers 3 – NCAA DII National Titles   31 – LSC Team Conference Championships   10– NCAA Event National Champions   2 – USTFCCCA National Women's Field Athlete of the Year (Zada Swoopes, 2021, 2022)   28 – All-Americans   35 – Individual/Event LSC Champions   3 – LSC Outdoor Female Field Athletes of the Year   1 – USTFCCCA Regional Indoor Field Athlete of the Year   1 – USTFCCCA South Central Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year (2022) Denham will enter his 15th  season with the track and field program in 2025-2026 and his 47th overall coaching.  He works with the Buff and Lady Buff throwers, including shot put, discus, hammer and weight throw.  During his years with the program, he has coached athletes to 10 individual National Championships and has 28 All-Americans.  Denham’s throwers have been critical to the team success of the program and the championships they have achieved.  He is considered one of the best throws coaches in the country.   Before WT, Denham coached shot and discus at Tascosa High School in Amarillo for over 30 years. During his time there, he coached over 40 regional qualifiers and over 20 state qualifiers. Fifteen of those athletes went on to throw in college, most notably Nick Jones who participated in the 2012 Olympic Trials.   A native of Spearman, Denham graduated from West Texas State in 1979.  He currently resides in Amarillo with his wife Vivian.  They have four children and ten grandchildren.  

Head Coach Matt Stewart Education: • Texas Tech (B.S. - Exercise and Sports Science, 2006) Running Career: • Four-Year Letterman • Competed in 200m, 400m, 4x100 and 4x400 • 2013 NCAA Division I All-American • 11-Time All-Big 12 Conference • Member of 2005 Big 12 Outdoor Championship team • 2005 Top Outstanding Track & Field Student-Athlete Coaching History: • West Texas A&M - (2010-Present) • Abilene Christian - (2009-2010) • Giddings High School (TX) - (2006-2009) Stewart-By-The-Numbers 3 – NCAA DII National Titles 15 – Event National Champions 192 – All-Americans 31 – LSC Team Conference Championships 94 – Individual/event LSC Champions 19 – LSC Relay Champions 12 – LSC Championships Outstanding Athlete 14 – LSC Track & Field Athletes of the Year 24 – LSC Coach of the Year Honors 19– USTFCCCA South Central Region Coach of the Year Honors (Assistant: Women - 2014 & 2016 / Men - 2017) (Head Coach: Women - 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2021, 2022, 2022, 2023/Men - 2021, 2022, 2023, 2023, 2025) 2 - USTFCCCA Division II National Coach of the Year Honor (Women - 2018, 2022) 20 – NCAA Podium Finishes Matt Stewart begins his 9th season as the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country and 16th season overall.    During his time in Canyon, Stewart has overseen WT’s sprints/hurdles/relays while coaching 192 All-Americans, 15 Individual Event NCAA Champions and 94 different individual/event Lone Star Conference Champions within his respective events.  Stewart has been named a nineteen-time USTFCCCA All-Region Coach of the Year and was the 2018 and 2022 National Coach of the Year.  Since starting the program in 2009-10, WT has made the move from a start-up program to an annual contender in the LSC Title race and a staple in the NCAA National Championships as the Lady Buffs have claimed three NCAA Division II National Championships (Outdoor - 2017, Indoor – 2018, Outdoor-2022) and 31 LSC Championships as well as 20 NCAA Team Podium Finishes.     Before coming to WT, Stewart spent the 2009-10 season as an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University. At ACU his coaching responsibilities included working with all sprints, hurdles, and relays as well as multi-event athletes, producing seven individual All-Americans and one All-American relay.   Stewart served as the head track and field coach and assistant football coach at Giddings (Texas) High School. In three years (2006-08) at Giddings, Stewart coached athletes to four medals at the Texas state high school track and field championship meet, as well as the 2006 Class 3A 400 meter state champion. Prior to his three-year stint at Giddings, Stewart was the assistant strength and conditioning coach at Texas Tech (2005-06).   A 2001 graduate of Odessa Permian High School, Stewart was a four-year letterman on the track and field team at Texas Tech (2002-05). He competed in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams for the Red Raiders. A 2003 NCAA Division I All-American, Stewart was a three-time national meet qualifier, he also earned 11 All-Big 12 honors and was a member of the 2005 Big 12 Outdoor Championship team.   A graduate of Texas Tech, Stewart earned his Bachelor of Science in Sports Science in May 2006. In June 2012 Stewart received the sprint, hurdle and relay event specialist certification from the USTFCCCA Track and Field Academy.   Stewart resides in Amarillo with his wife, Sarah (former two-time All-American) and daughters Ella and Caroline.   Top Sprint/Hurdle/Relay Performances Since 2011  Men  Women  Event  Name  Performance  Event  Name  Performance  60  Benjamin Azamati  6.54*$  60  Leah Belfield  7.33*  100       Benjamin Azamati  9.90*$ (2.0)  100  Deborah Acheampong  11.29* (1.6)  200m(i)  Benjamin Azamati  20.57*  200m(i)  Leah Belfield  23.75*  200m(o)  Benjamin Azamati  20.13*$ (1.4)  200m(o)  Leah Belfield/ Deborah Acheampong  23.30* (1.5)  400m(i)  Quinton Sansing  46.91*  400m(i)  Blessing Akintoye  53.10*  400m(o)  Quinton Sansing  45.54*  400m(o)  Peace Nwaelehia  52.11*  60h  Tyrin Lewis  7.75*  60h  Sharon Kwarula  8.46*  110h  Jahmaal Wilson  13.35* (1.7)  100h  Sharon Kwarula  13.52* (2.0)  400mH  Bassem Hemeida  49.68*  400mH  Sharon Kwarula  58.40*  4x100m   Manu, Jakpa, Purcell, Botsio  38.70*$  4x100m  Scott, Belfield, Wilson, Green  44.15*  4x400(i)  Piniau, Cooper, Schaffer, Gyasi  3:11.25*  4x400(i)  Nwaelehia, Hamidu, Abugire, Akintoye  3:40.21*  4x400(o)  James, Birks, Pittman, Sansing  3:05.80*  4x400(o)  Nwaelehia, Hamidu, Abugire, Akintoye  3:34.21*  Pentathlon  Libby Strickland  3,856  * = School Record  $ = D2 All-Time Record