By USTFCCCA Communications, USTFCCCA
February 18, 2026  
Award History
NCAA DII TF Athlete HOF
NEW ORLEANS – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced six inductees into the NCAA Division II Athlete Hall of Fame on Wednesday afternoon.
SEE MORE: USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Track & Field Athlete Hall of Fame
The Class of 2026 includes Scott Bauhs of Adams State, Coy Blair of Tiffin, Quanera Hayes of Livingstone, Mel Herl of Chadron State, Stachia Reuwsaat of Chadron State and Thomas Staines of CSU Pueblo.
Coy Blair
Coy Blair dominated NCAA Division II throwing events in 2017, establishing himself as the nation’s premier shot putter. After ruling the GLIAC, Blair swept the NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, highlighted by an outdoor victory margin of more than three feet. He also captured the NCAA weight throw crown that season, becoming the first athlete since 2006 to complete the shot-weight double. Blair concluded his career as a three-time NCAA champion and a six-time All-America honoree.
Scott Bauhs
Scott Bauhs cemented his legacy over a three-week span in 2008, becoming the youngest American to break four minutes in the mile (3:59.81) and 28 minutes in the 10,000 meters (27:48.06), the latter an NCAA DII record that stood for nearly 17 years. He accomplished the historic feat between the Chico State Twilight Invitational in mid-April and the Stanford-hosted Payton Jordan Invitational in early May, and went on to win three NCAA titles: the outdoor 10,000 meters in 2007, the outdoor 5000 meters in 2008, and the cross country championship later that fall, helping Chico State match its best finish in program history (third).
Thomas Staines
Thomas Staines authored one of the most dominant middle-distance careers in NCAA DIvision II history at CSU Pueblo. A five-time NCAA champion, Staines set the NCAA DII all-conditions best in the 800 meters at 1:46.27 and a record-legal 600-meter best of 1:15.31. He also shattered both the indoor and outdoor championship meet records in the 800. His legendary résumé includes three USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Year honors, eight All-America accolades, and more than ten conference titles in the ultra-competitive RMAC.
Mel Herl
Mel Herl distinguished herself as one of the most versatile throwers in NCAA Division II history during her career at Chadron State. By her graduation in 2017, Herl ranked among the top ten performers in four throwing events: the weight throw, where she currently sits No. 2 all-time at 21.89m (71-9¾); the hammer throw, where she ranks No. 3 at 65.27m (241-1) and won one of her two NCAA titles; the outdoor shot put, where she is sixth at 16.92m (55-6¾); and the discus throw, where she ranks seventh at 57.05m (187-2).
Stachia Reuwsaat
Stachia Reuwsaat emerged as one of the premier long jumpers in NCAA Division II history during her collegiate career. As a sophomore, she soared 6.43m (21-1¼) to become the No. 2 performer on the NCAA DII all-time list. Reuwsaat followed that breakthrough with back-to-back NCAA indoor titles as a junior and senior and added another all-time mark outdoors, leaping 6.61m (21-8¼) to rank No. 3 in NCAA DII history. She also earned First-Team All-America honors in both the 60 meters and 100 meters in 2017.
Quanera Hayes
Quanera Hayes established her winning pedigree long before capturing six global gold medals as part of Team USA’s 4×400-meter relays. As a standout at Livingstone College, Hayes became just the second woman in NCAA history – regardless of division – to win three consecutive 400-meter titles joining Amber James (NCAA Division III). Hayes accomplished that feat from 2013 to 2015 and added the NCAA 200-meter title as a senior in 2015, concluding her collegiate career with four NCAA championships and 12 All-America honors.
Award History
NCAA DII TF Athlete HOF
