RAGO, JOHNSON, ANTKOVIAK EARN USTFCCCA MIDWEST REGION HONORS
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Following a dominant indoor season, Olivet Nazarene University's women's track & field program continues to gain recognition at the national level. Head coach Kyle Rago, assistant coach Zontavious Johnson, and standout athlete Hannah Antkoviak were each honored with Midwest Region awards by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The organization announced its end-of-season awards on Thursday.
Rago was named the USTFCCCA Women's Coach of the Year for the Midwest Region after leading the Tigers to a commanding team title at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Indoor Championships. ONU won 10 events and totaled 279 points—113 ahead of the runner-up—to secure the conference crown. Under Rago's leadership, the Tigers have climbed to No. 5 in the national rankings.
Johnson earned USTFCCCA Women's Assistant Coach of the Year honors for the Midwest Region for the second consecutive year after playing a key role in ONU's conference championship. Now in his third year with the program, Johnson guided the Tigers' sprinters, hurdlers, and combined events athletes to 134 of the team's 279 points at the CCAC Championships. His training group holds four top-4 #EventSquad rankings nationally, including No. 1 marks in the 400 meters and 60-meter hurdles.
Antkoviak was named the USTFCCCA Women's Track Athlete of the Year for the Midwest Region for the second straight year after another record-breaking season. The Allegan, Mich., native set a new NAIA record in the 600 meters, clocking 1:29.49 at the CCAC Indoor Championships. She currently owns the top time in the nation in the 400 meters (54.13) and ranks among the top-10 in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and 60-meter hurdles.
The Tigers now turn their attention to the upcoming NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, set to take place next week in Gainesville, Fla.
—ONU—
*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu