LEVELLAND — A week after capturing the 2022 NJCAA Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Championship in Hutchinson, Kansas, South Plains College head track and field coach Erik Vance, along with assistant Wes Miller, and athletes Thomas Nieto and Chris Robinson received national and regional awards Thursday by the USTFCCCA.

Leading the Texans to their second consecutive men's outdoor title, Vance was tabbed the National Men's Coach of the Year, as well as the West Region Men's Coach of the Year. This marks Vance's third men's outdoor crown, leading SPC to the men's outdoor title in 2017, and again in 2021 and 2022.

Vance is assisted by Wes Miller, who was tabbed the National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the West Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year. This marks the second consecutive outdoor National award for Miller, who was also named the National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021.

Winning the men's pole vault national title in Hutch, Nieto has been tabbed the National Men's Field Athlete of the Year, as well as the West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Nieto cruised to a gold medal at the national meet, clearing 17' 4.25", and also put down the third-best mark in NJCAA history earlier this season at the Wes Kittley Invitational, getting over the bar at 17' 9".

Nieto's teammate Chris Robinson, who will run for the University of Alabama next season, was also tabbed the West Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year. Robinson posted the fastest time in NJCAA history in the 400 hurdles on May 1 in Lubbock, clocking a 49.18. Despite running on an injured ankle at the national meet, Robinson laced up his spikes and earned a fourth place national finish for South Plains in 52.94.