NEW ORLEANS, La. – The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the regional athletes and coaches of the year for the 2024 NCAA Division III Cross Country season this afternoon. There was one American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) student-athlete and one coach to earn a major award from the Midwest Region. Additionally, 23 student-athletes earned All-Region honors after finishing in the top-35 at their respective regional races.
Wartburg’s Isaiah Hammerand earned the Midwest Region Male Athlete of the Year for the Knights. In addition, head coach for Wartburg, Ryan Chapman, earned the Midwest Region Men’s Coach of the Year after leading the nationally ranked No. 2 Knights to the region title and automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
Midwest Region Male Athlete of the Year: Isaiah Hammerand, Wartburg
Hammerand, a sophomore, won the individual title at the Midwest Region Championships. The Wartburg standout now has three victories to his name with his other two coming at the A-R-C Championships as well as the Dan Huston Invitational.
Midwest Region Men’s Head Coach of the Year: Ryan Chapman, Wartburg
Chapman, in his ninth year as head coach at Wartburg, led the Knights to the team title at the Midwest Region Championships with 44 points. Earlier in the season, Wartburg won the team title at the A-R-C Championships with 15 points, Augustana Interregional Invitational Gold Division with 41 points, Dan Huston Invitational with 15 points, and John Kurtt Invitational with 19 points.
| 2024 A-R-C Men’s All-Midwest Region Honorees |
| Name |
School |
| Derek Webster |
Central |
| Lewis Kleman |
Coe |
| Anthony Carney |
Dubuque |
| Jacob Belha |
Loras |
| Isaac Bourne |
Loras |
| Julian Watson |
Loras |
| Shane Erb |
Wartburg |
| Jacob Green |
Wartburg |
| Isaiah Hammerand |
Wartburg |
| Connor Lancial |
Wartburg |
| Eli Larson |
Wartburg |
| Sam Schmitz |
Wartburg |
| Lance Sobaski |
Wartburg |
| 2024 A-R-C Women’s All-Midwest Region Honorees |
| Name |
School |
| Addy Parrott |
Central |
| Peyton Steffen |
Central |
| Frankie Chaidez |
Loras |
| Becca Diddia |
Loras |
| Alyssa Blankenship |
Luther |
| Teghan Booth |
Simpson |
| Karle Kramer |
Wartburg |
| Lydia Maas |
Wartburg |
| Ellie Meyer |
Wartburg |
| Haley Meyer |
Wartburg |
About the American Rivers Conference
The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.
