JONESBORO, Ark. (2/26/21) – After leading Arkansas State to its second consecutive sweep of the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Track Championships, head track and field coach Jim Patchell once again swept the Men's and Women's Coach of the Year honors to highlight the Sun Belt Conference postseason honors.
The end-of-season awards are voted on by the league's coaches. Friday's honor marks the 10th and 11th SBC Coach of the Year laurels for Patchell, and marks the third coach of the year honor for A-State in the 2020-21 cross country/track and field calendar with Jesse Duvall being named Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding the Scarlet and Black to its second straight women's conference title in October.
Since the 2019-20 cross country season, A-State has claimed six of the eight possible Coach of the Year honors. In Patchell's tenure, the Red Wolves have won a combined 14 conference titles between men's and women's cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.
Allie Hensley emerged as one of the top performers in the meet, taking the pentathlon crown a day after placing third in the women's high jump. The Clinton, Arkansas, native recorded personal bests in the high jump (1.78m – 5-10.0), shot put (11.89m – 39-0.25) and 800m (2:25.79) to move up to No. 2 in program history in the event with a collegiate-best score of 3,875 points..
A combined 25 Red Wolves earned All-Sun Belt honors based on their highest podium finish at the championships (13 men, 12 women). Seven A-State men earned first-team honors, with three being tabbed second team and three third-team honorees.
On the women's side, four athletes earned first-team laurels by capturing gold in their events, including co-high-point scorer Pauline Meyer, who totaled 20 points with a 3000m championship, runner-up finish in the mile and two points earned as part of the second-place DMR team. Six Red Wolves were named to the second team while two were tabbed third team.
2021 Sun Belt Indoor Track & Field Awards
MEN
Most Outstanding Track Performer – Cole Klashinsky (UT Arlington)
Most Outstanding Field Performer – Brandon Busby (Texas State)
Most Outstanding Freshman – Cameron Jackson (Little Rock)
Newcomer of the Year – Kyle Rademeyer (South Alabama)
Coach of the Year – Jim Patchell (Arkansas State)
WOMEN
Most Outstanding Track Performer – Kiana Foster (Louisiana)
Most Outstanding Field Performer – Allie Hensley (Arkansas State)
Most Outstanding Freshman – Jermaisha Arnold (Coastal Carolina)
Newcomer of the Year – Jermaisha Arnold (Coastal Carolina)
Coach of the Year – Jim Patchell (Arkansas State)
A-State on the 2021 Indoor Track & Field All-Sun Belt Teams
MEN (13)
First Team (7)
Jermie Walker
Seth Waters
Carter Shell
Gregoire Saury
Kobey Hill
Alejandro Vargas
Bennett Pascoe
Second Team (3)
Lexington Hilton
Will Glass
Aimar Palma Simo
Third Team (3)
Bradley Jelmert
Eron Carter
WOMEN (12)
First Team (4)
Pauline Meyer
Evangelynn Harris
Chastery Fuamatu
Allie Hensley
Second Team (6)
Sarah Trammel
Lauren Beauchamp
Grace Flowers
Elizabeth Martin
Kyndall Hudson
Kayla Wade
Third Team (2)
Osereme Erewele
Sophie Leathers
For the latest on the A-State track and field program, follow @AStateTrack on Twitter and @Arkansas_State_Track on Instagram, while also liking the team's Facebook page at Facebook.com/AStateTrackAndField.
