On Wednesday, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its 2023 Outdoor Track & Field All-Region awards. Jayden Bennermon and Emmanuel Mena-Jimenez of St. Thomas Aquinas College were selected for the prestigious honor in recognition of their outstanding individual spring seasons.
Bennermon, the junior from Poughkeepsie, N.Y., posted First (Army West Point Twilight/2.08m), First (ECC Outdoor Championship/1.85m), First (East Stroudsburg University All-American Meet/1.95m), Second (The College of New Jersey Invitational/1.91m), First (Ramapo College T&F Invitational/2.04m) and First (St. Thomas University Spring Break Meet/2.00m) Place finishes in the High Jump during six meets this season.
Mena-Jimenez, the sophomore from West Haverstraw, N.Y., placed Fourth (Army West Point Twilight/51.49m), First (ECC Outdoor Championship/52.60m), Thirteenth (Penn Relays/47.37m), Second (East Stroudsburg University All-American Meet/51.13m), Second (The College of New Jersey Invitational/52.89m) and First (Ramapo College T&F Invitational/51.69m) Place finishes in the Discus during six meets this spring.
He also took First (ECC Outdoor Championship/52.82m), Third (East Stroudsburg University All-American Meet/53.68m), First (The College of New Jersey Invitational/53.18m) and First (Ramapo College T&F Invitational/57.86m) Place finishes in the Hammer Throw during four meets this season.
Mena-Jimenez has also been selected to compete in the upcoming NCAA Division II National Championships, and will take part in the Discus event, where he finished 18th in the country with a throw of 52.89m (173'6").