NEW ORLEANS, La.- Carson-Newman track and field athlete Makanakaishe Charamba was named the National Men's Track Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) this afternoon, June 7.
National Athletes and Coaches of the Year honors were released this afternoon by the USTFCCCA for the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field season. The awards were voted on by member coaches at the conclusion of the 2023 NCAA DII Outdoor T&F Championships in Pueblo, Colo. The honors consider athletes' performances throughout the outdoor season.
Charamba was named Men's National Track Athlete of the Year after his two national championship performances at the conclusion of the season. Charamba won gold in the 200-meter dash in 20.19 seconds. His performance made him the third-fastest athlete in the event in NCAA DII history. Charamba went on to win the 100-meter dash in 10.02.
Along with his sweep of the men's 100 and 200-meter dash events, Charamba contributed to the team's second-place finish in the 4x100-meter relay. He raced with teammates Devon Moore, Dawson Jones, and Siphosethu Boya. The quartet placed second and garnered All-American accolades in the event with a time of 39.33 seconds.
At the SAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Charamba contributed 22 points to the team score. He won gold in both the 100 and 200, and again contributed to a second-place 4x100-meter relay team. Charamba earned SAC Men's Track Athlete of the Meet for his performance.
Charamba earned seven first-place finishes over the course of the season. His wind-legal 10.15-second 100-meter dash at the Texas Relays made him the seventh-fastest DII athlete in the event in NCAA history.
During the outdoor season, Charamba has been named National Men's Track Athlete of the Year, Men's Southeast Region Track Athlete of the Year, and SAC Men's Track Athlete of the Meet, as well as being a two-time SAC Varsity Gems Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week award winner and two-time national champion.
