CHARLOTTE, N.C.- First-year Queens runner Oscar Ogwaro (Los Angeles, Calif., Woodrow Wilson)and second-year head coach Scott Simmons have garnered the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Cross Country Division II Southeast Region Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year titles as announced by the USTFCCCA.
Ogwaro, a junior transfer student from Los Angeles, Cal., won two meets this season, including the most recent Southeast Region Championship by 11 seconds. His first win came in the Appalachian State University’s Covered Bridge Open, his first race as a Royal.
Simmons has led the team to two consecutive NCAA Championships, the first in Queens history. Last year the Royals finished 15th at the meet and will look to improve upon that this season. Additionally, under the leadership of Simmons Queens has been nationally ranked all season starting at No. 19 and rising to the current ranking of No. 7.
The honors are the second straight for Queens. Last season Simmons was named the Southeast Coach of the Year and senior Daniel Kanyaruhuru was honored as the Athlete of the Year.
For information on all region winners click here.