EOU Track & Field Coaches Earn USTFCCCA Regional Awards

By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Tuesday, May 31st, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

LA GRANDE – (Release from Eastern Oregon University) The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced late Friday afternoon its 2022 Regional Award winners for the NAIA. Eastern Oregon University had a pair of coaches make the annual list for the outdoor season.

Garnering regional awards for the Mountaineers were head coach Ben Welch and assistant coach Connor Bracken as both were recognized by USTFCCCA on the men’s side for their efforts this outdoor season. Welch was named the West Region Head Coach of the Year, while Bracken was tabbed the Assistant Coach of the Year.

In his 31st year of guiding EOU, Welch led the Mountaineers to the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships with 190 points. Eastern Oregon had six top-10 #EventSquad Rankings, topped by a No. 2 in the pole vault. Bracken was key in the help as well. He coached athletes to account for 146 of the Mountaineer’s 190 points in winning the team title at the Cascade Conference Championships. His athletes won six events, two of which racked up top-5 #EventSquad Rankings (high jump at No. 3, triple jump at No. 4).

For the coaching duo, this marks a sweep of the region awards on the men’s side as both earned the same honors for the indoor season. For Welch, it is the second consecutive year he has earned West Region Men’s Coach of the Year honors for both indoor and outdoor season. Bracken, in his first year as a full-time assistant, picks up his first career sweep of the West Region Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year award.

For Welch and the Mountaineers, they qualified 11 individuals and two relays for the 2022 NAIA Outdoor National Championships. The Mountaineer men are coming off back-to-back CCC Titles after winning again in 2022, while the women finished fifth. Outdoor Nationals is set to take place this Wednesday-Friday, May 25-27. A full preview will be released tomorrow on www.EOUSports.com.