2026 Heart Men's Outdoor Track & Field Men's Postseason Awards Announced 

The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced its 2026 Heart Men's Outdoor Track & Field Men's Postseason Awards on Monday afternoon.  

Each award was voted upon by the Heart Track & Field head coaches and are based on results from the Heart Outdoor Track & Field Conference Championships held last weekend on the campus of Mount Mercy.  

Coach of the Year – Jacob Connealy, Benedictine 
Jacob Connealy led Benedictine to the 2026 Heart Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, as the Ravens totaled 147 points to secure the team title. Under his leadership, Benedictine produced 24 all-conference performances, showcasing the program's depth and consistency across events. 

Assistant Coach of the Year – Zuva Bvekerwa, William Penn 
Zuva Bvekerwa guided William Penn's sprints, hurdles, and jumps group to a strong showing, contributing 48 team points at the conference meet. His group was highlighted by a conference-record performance and NAIA A standard in the 110-meter hurdles, along with multiple scoring finishes and two national qualifiers. 

Track Athlete of the Meet – Isaac Lawson, Central Methodist 
Isaac Lawson delivered a dominant all-around performance, scoring 25 points while claiming four conference titles. He won both the 200m and 400m and played a key role in record-setting victories in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, with both relay teams hitting NAIA A standards. 

Field Athlete of the Meet – Xzavion West, William Penn 
Xzavion West was unstoppable in the throws, scoring 30 points with conference titles in the hammer, shot put, and discus. He recorded an NAIA A standard and facility record in the hammer, while also adding a B standard in the shot put to cap off a dominant meet.