NORMAN – Oklahoma track and field throws athlete Ralford Mullings was named the USTFCCCA Division I National Men’s Field Athlete of the Year and head coach James Thomas and associate head coach Jerel Langley, along with heptathlete Pippi Lotta Enok, picked up USTFCCCA Midwest Regional awards. The coaches association announced Thomas was awarded Men’s Coach of the Year, Langley Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year and Enok and Mullings Field Athletes of the Year.

Mullings, who hails from Kingston, Jamaica, claimed the NCAA Outdoor Championships discus throw title on June 14. He tossed the implement for a PR of 69.31m (227’3.00″) to shatter a 33-year-old meet record and beat world record holder Mykolas Alekna of California. Mullings’ improvement cements his status as the No. 2 performer in collegiate history as the 69.31m (227’3.00″) mark sits ninth on the all-time collegiate chart. He was also the SEC Outdoor Championships discus throw title winner. Mullings is the first NCAA discus champion to win the national award since Ryan Whiting in 2010 and becomes the first Sooner in program history to be named national athlete of the year.

This marks Thomas’ second regional coach of the year accolade in as many seasons at the helm of OU T&F. During his time at Georgia (2021-23) and Texas Tech (2013-21) he earned 11 Regional Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Langley, in his ninth year at OU, collects his third regional assistant coach of the year award and second of the 2025 season, as he also earned the indoor nod. Enok and Mullings claim the first regional accolades of their career.

Thomas directed the Sooner men to a sixth-place finish (30.5 points) at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, the team’s best outdoor placement since 1997 and second highest in program history. He guided two men to national titles, BJ Green (triple jump) and Ralford Mullings (discus throw) and two more athletes to top-six finishes to total four NCAA First Team All-America honors.

Langley coached Enok to the second heptathlon national title of her career, with her performance at the NCAA Outdoor Championships setting a program record of 6,285 points, breaking the Estonian record and moving to No. 10 all-time collegiately. He also assisted Olivia Lueking to her fifth conference title, winning the gold medal at the SEC Outdoor Championships in the pole vault.

Enok’s exceptional performance in the combined events on the national stage earned her the regional award. The Jõhvi, Estonia, native marked the end of her collegiate career with the No. 7 all-time heptathlon score in NCAA Outdoor Championships meet history.

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The future of Kenyan athletics is in safe hands.

That was the bold message at Afraha Stadium where junior stars dazzled during the National Under-18 and Under-20 Trials.

From South Rift to Nyanza, Central and beyond, junior athletes showcased raw talent and promise, a result of years of structured training and strategic planning.

Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir said the performances at the Afraha Stadium trials are proof that the federation’s nationwide programmes are working.

“What we’re seeing is not by chance. It’s the result of deliberate, consistent investment in young people,” noted Korir.

“Our holiday camps, school partnerships and regional camps are allowing our youth to dream and succeed.”

Barnaba commended all regions for producing top performers but highlighted South Rift’s leading role, describing it as a key pillar in AK’s development model.

“This region continues to lead in both numbers and structure. South Rift has nine active camps, the most in any region, and remains a cornerstone of our efforts,” said Korir.

Reflecting on his own experience as an athlete in the same region in 1983 before receiving a US scholarship, Korir noted how far youth athletics have come.

“Back then, we didn’t have the kind of support our athletes enjoy today. Now, with better coaching, facilities, and access to education, we are shaping not just great athletes, but great people,” he added.

Korir also emphasised the importance of holistic development and went ahead to credit AK’s school-based holiday training camps for combining academics with athletics, a model that prepares athletes for life beyond the track.

“Our vision is to raise disciplined, educated, and focused athletes who can represent Kenya with pride.”

In 2024, Korir said AK’s collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and the Ministry of Education has enabled a smoother transition for young athletes from school into competitive sport.

With the expected completion of renovations at Afraha Stadium, Korir promised that more national events will be held in such upgraded venues to inspire and reach more talent at the grassroots level.

Similarly, Korir reaffirmed AK’s commitment to integrity and clean athletics warning, “We are capturing accurate biodata from a young age to curb age cheating and doping. No one should mislead our youth with shortcuts. The future of athletics must be clean, honest, and athlete-centred.”

He reiterated that the government-supported U-20 training camps remain a crucial part of AK’s long-term plan.

“These camps allow us to walk with the athlete through every step. They are central to our development strategy.”

Concluding his remarks, Korir expressed optimism and national pride stating that across Kenya “we are seeing brilliance emerge. These young athletes are the heartbeat of our future, and we have to guide them every step of the way”.

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The past few months have been incredible for Western Dubuque High School sensation Quentin Nauman.

Along with capturing four state championships earlier this year, Nauman won the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis. But over the weekend, Nauman won perhaps his biggest race of the year.

Running on his future track at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon, Nauman won the mile at the Nike Outdoor Nationals/USA Track and Field U20 Championships.

The senior-to-be clocked a time of 4:00.52 to win by just .01 second over Evan Noonan running for the Nike Elite Club. Nauman, a 17-year-old, was also ninth in the 800 at the meet, which features the best athletes in the country.

Nauman won gold at the Iowa high school state track and field championships in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, along with running on the winning distance medley relay. He swept the four races as a sophomore and is also a multi-time Drake Relays champion.

Nauman has already committed to run at Oregon when he exhausts his high school eligibility.

Parkway Central Colts freshman Arhan Meka finished fifth in his first state boys tennis tournament.

Coach Lee Hayes was happy to have Meka join his program.

“I had heard of him through the kids on the team and some teaching pros,” Hays said. “He was young and impressive as a player.”

Meka went 17-2 in the regular season and in districts. His only two losses were to Eureka senior and Class 3 state singles runner-up and Webster Groves’ Paul Castleman, the Class 2 singles runner-up.

In the Class quarterfinals, Meka lost 6-2, 6-2 to Castleman.

“Castleman really wanted the match,” Hays said. “He raised his level and played exceptionally well against Arhan.”

Meka then rebounded with three wins to finish fifth. Meka defeated Noah Blum, of Warrensburg, 6-1, 7-5 to finish in fifth place.

His strong effort at state impressed Hays.

“He is not a quitter,” Hays said. “Though disappointed, he finished strong. To be 14 and be this solid of a player, he will be fun to watch. If he stays with it and is healthy, he will be a player we will all enjoy watching.”

 

Up next in the Women’s competition is Maya Kelly. Maya achieved a 6th place finish at the World Aquatics High Diving World Cup 2024 in Bahrain, Manama and is excited to compete in Singapore 2025. 

We put Maya into the question-and-answer hot seat. Here’s what we got from her:

Maya finds beauty in architecture, and one landmark stands out to her is Copenhagen Opera House “I do find the Opera House really cool in Copenhagen, so I think I would like that,” she shared. A dive with the iconic building as a backdrop would be a spectacular sight!

Though her competition experience is just beginning, Maya has a favorite. “Probably Bahrain,” she said, referring to her current World Cup event in Bahrain. Her only other major competition was in Montreal during her junior years, but “that was indoors,” so this outdoor adventure takes the top spot.

Maya finds her competitive focus with the help of music—and she’s a proud Swiftie! “Probably anything by Taylor Swift,” she revealed about her go-to playlist. “I have a specific meet playlist I listen to before every competition.” Swift’s empowering lyrics and catchy tunes help set the mood.

Among her repertoire, one dive stands out as her favorite. “Probably my backflip pike,” Maya said. While she didn’t compete with it at Bahrain 2024 World Cup, it remains her personal signature move, showcasing her grace and precision in the air.

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