2013-14 USTFCCCA Region Athletes of the Year

New Orleans, LA -- In the home stretch towards the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships this weekend, Jordan Edwards proudly represented Academy of Art University as the DII West Region Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year as selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in a Monday announcement.

"This is award goes with everything I have been working for," Edwards said. "I was out of school and track for a year and a half and, over that time span, I have only been doubted or forgot about. Well I am here to make them remember or know who I am and what I'm here to do; to be the best. Without my love and dedication to this sport, I have nothing. I work hard everyday and I want it to always show. I believe this award is only a start of what's left for me."

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.

"We are extremely proud of the evolution Jordan has embraced this indoor season," head coach Charles Ryan said. "It's hard to understand how tough it is to shift focus away from what you have always felt is your 'best' event. Jordan has accepted every challenge we have thrown at him and he is in a great position to bring home some hardware for ART U. I'm ecstatic and honored that my colleagues voted him as the Athlete of the Year for our region. Obviously I believe it to be very well-deserved."

Edwards, a junior from Denver, CO, concluded the regular season as the top-ranked Division II man at 400 meters (46.82, converted to 47.57 for track size) and the top-ranked man in the West Region at 200 meters (21.58, converted to 21.97 for track type), for the No. 20 spot nationally. His DII-leading time at 400 meters came in a win at the Division II Team Challenge, where he also ran legs of the winning 4×400 and distance medley relay teams. He will contest both the 200 and 400 meter events at the  NCAA Division II Indoor Championships.

Many of the regionally honored athletes and coaches will be in competition at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships set for March 14-15, in Winston-Salem, N.C., at the JDL Fast Track. The meet can be streamed online live at NCAA.org, and more information can be found at the USTFCCCA's National Championships Central page.