Azusa Pacific had three individuals honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association this week. Jenny Sandoval was named the West Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year, Jack Hoyt was selected as the West Region Men's Coach of the Year, and Andrea Blackett was named the West Region Women's Assistant Coach of the Year.

Sandoval was named the region's top track athlete after she became the 10K national champion at Nationals a few weeks ago. Sandoval won the individual title with a time of 33:35.76 in thrilling fashion. In the final lap, she started the final 400 meters in third place with a bit of distance between herself and the leaders. However, with about 200 meters to go, she closed the gap to overtake the runner in second, and then down the final straightaway, Sandoval flew past the first place runner and pulled away down the stretch to claim the title as national champion. Sandoval was also an All-American in the 5K at Nationals, as she finished sixth with a time of 16:19.86. At the PacWest Championships, Sandoval scored 25 points to help Azusa Pacific capture its sixth-consecutive conference title, as she won both the 10K and 5K, and she was also fourth in the 1500. 

Hoyt was named the region's top men's coach after he led the Cougars to their sixth-consecutive PacWest team title. Not only did the Cougars capture the conference crown at the PacWest Championships, but Azusa Pacific set a meet record for points scored at the meet with 313 points over the two-day competition. In total, the Cougars won 11 events and had 26 athletes achieve All-Conference distinction, and Hoyt was named the PacWest Men's Coach of the Year for the third-consecutive season. A few weeks later at Nationals, the men had athletes qualify in nine events, and the Cougars closed out Nationals with eight All-American performances. Hoyt has now earned the top regional award on both the men's and women's side, as he was the 2021 West Region Women's Coach of the Year, as well as the 2021 national Women's Coach of the Year.

Blackett, who is the associate head coach for the Cougars and coaches sprints and hurdles, earned the third West Region Assistant Coach of the Year honor of her career this season, as she was selected for the award in 2021 for the outdoor season, and she was the indoor honoree in 2020. Blackett was also named last year's national Women's Assistant Coach of the Year. This spring, Blackett sent seven individual qualifiers and two relay teams to Nationals. In those events, the Cougars achieved All-American status in four different events. At the PacWest Championships, Blackett's athletes scored 61 points for the Cougars, winning three individual conference titles and finishing with a total of eight All-PacWest performances.