CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) –The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year for the 2026 NCAA Indoor Track & Field season, honoring five Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes and coaches.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Women’s Track Athlete of the Year, Southeast Region - Gladys Chepngetich, Clemson
Chepngetich won the 800 meters at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Chepngetich became the second-fastest woman in collegiate history in the 800 meters with her time of 1:58.81 at the John Thomas Terrier Challenge.
Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, Southeast Region - KJ Byrd, Louisville
Byrd finished runner-up in the heptathlon at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships with a personal record of 6,132 points. In the midst of the heptathlon, Byrd set an American and collegiate heptathlon record in the pole vault with his 5.57m (18-3¼) clearance. Earlier in the season, Byrd won the pole vault at the ACC Indoor Championships with a mark of 5.55m (18-2½).
Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, Southeast Region - Shantae Foreman, Clemson
Foreman finished runner-up in the triple jump at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Foreman bounded a personal-best mark of 14.17m (46-6) at the Orange & Purple Invitational that made her the 14th-best performer in collegiate history. Foreman scored 13 points in field events at the ACC Indoor Championships, winning the triple jump and placing sixth in the long jump.
Women’s Coach of the Year, Southeast Region - Mark Elliott, Clemson
Elliott led the Tigers to the team title at the 2026 ACC Indoor Championships. Clemson had a 10th-place team finish at the NCAA DI Indoor Championships as all three of its qualifiers scored, led by 800-meter champion Gladys Chepngetich, who earlier in the year clocked the No. 2 performance all-time collegiately at 1:58.81.
Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year, Southeast Region - Brandon Amo, Virginia
Amo coached Cavalier weight throwers to be ranked No. 1 in the national #EventSquad Rankings for the majority of the season. His group sent three to the NCAA DI Indoor Championships, led by Jeremiah Nubbe, who earned runner-up honors after leading a 1-3-4-7 UVA finish for Virginia at the 2026 ACC Indoor Championships.