Palmer and Cheruiyot earn USTFCCCA Annual Awards
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 | Cross Country
Will Palmer named Women’s South Region Coach of the Year; Kelvin Cheruiyot earns South Region Men’s Athlete of the Year.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Associate Head Coach Will Palmer and freshman Kelvin Cheruiyot earned annual awards following the conclusion of the season, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Tuesday.
Will Palmer was named the Women's South Region Coach of the Year, leading the Gators to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri, with 225 points. Earlier in the season, the women won team titles at the South Region Championships with 52 points and the SEC Championships with 45 points, where Palmer earned SEC Women's Coach of the Year following the victory.
Kelvin Cheruiyot added to his standout freshman campaign by earning South Region Men's Athlete of the Year after delivering top performances throughout the season. Cheruiyot captured the individual title at the South Region Championships and placed 14th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. Additionally, he won the SEC Championships and the NCAA Pre-National meet, and finished 16th at the Gans Creek Classic. With the latest honor, Cheruiyot has now collected ten awards this season, including All-SEC accolades, All-Region honors, and All-American recognition.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships. Only individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
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Will Palmer was named the Women's South Region Coach of the Year, leading the Gators to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA DI Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri, with 225 points. Earlier in the season, the women won team titles at the South Region Championships with 52 points and the SEC Championships with 45 points, where Palmer earned SEC Women's Coach of the Year following the victory.
Kelvin Cheruiyot added to his standout freshman campaign by earning South Region Men's Athlete of the Year after delivering top performances throughout the season. Cheruiyot captured the individual title at the South Region Championships and placed 14th at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri. Additionally, he won the SEC Championships and the NCAA Pre-National meet, and finished 16th at the Gans Creek Classic. With the latest honor, Cheruiyot has now collected ten awards this season, including All-SEC accolades, All-Region honors, and All-American recognition.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the NCAA Championships. Only individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Follow the Gators:
Instagram: @GatorsTF
X: @GatorsTF
#GoGators
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
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