NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year award winners Thursday morning. Eastern Oregon University had a pair of names make the list for the West Region.
 
Ben Welch was named the NAIA West Region Men's Coach of the Year, while Maggie Ledbetter was tabbed the West Region Female Field Athlete of the Year.
 
Coach Welch is in his 19th year at EOU and has led the Mountaineers another team title this past weekend at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with 203 points and eight event titles over the two-day span. The Mountaineers have 11 top-20 nationally ranked events and are ranked in the top-15 across 10 disciplines in the NAIA including the No. 2 decathlon squad. Eight of his athletes have qualified for the NAIA Championships.
 
Ledbetter is just in her sophomore season for the Mountaineers and has been one of the best on the team and in the NAIA. She currently ranks 10th nationally in the discus at 147-9 (45.02m) and 11th nationally in the shot put at 44-10¼ (13.67m). This past weekend, Ledbetter totaled 26 points at the CCC Outdoor Track & Field Championships thanks to a discus-shot sweep and a third-place effort in the hammer throw. Her efforts helped the Mountaineer women secure a runner-up finish at the meet.
 
Up next for the Mountaineers will be the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in Foley, Ala. The meet is set to take place May 26-28 at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium. The full list of qualifiers for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships will be released Friday, May 21.

FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS