Liberia: Fahnbulleh Named 2022 NCAA Men’s Track Athlete of the Year

"Not only did he sweep the short sprints, he also anchored Florida to a runner-up finish in the 4×100 relay.”

US-based Liberian Olympian Joseph Fahnbulleh continues to add more accolades to his personal achievements with 2022 being a remarkable year of success.

A few days after making history in the 2022 NCAA outdoor championship, Fahnbulleh was on Friday, June 17, named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field season. The award was given by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), a New Orleans, Louisiana-based professional association representing men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. 

The USTFCCCA has about 8,000 members. The group serves as an advocate for coaches, providing a national forum to address their needs.

Following the conclusion of every outdoor season, member coaches of the USTFCCCA vote on the awards based on performances during both the regular season and the NCAA postseason.

Fahnbulleh, 20, won the after he starred at the NCAA DI Outdoor Championships, becoming the fifth athlete in the past seven years to complete the 100-200 double and did so with PR marks in each final: 10.00 (+0.6) in a stirring comeback victory; 19.83 (+0.6) to become the No. 4 performer in collegiate history, the college’s website reveals.

“Not only did he sweep the short sprints, he also anchored Florida to a runner-up finish in the 4×100 relay. Fahnbulleh also helped the Gators win the 4×100 relay at the SEC Outdoor Championships and finished runner-up in the 200-meter final.”

The 20-year-old Liberian Sprinter wasn’t the only recipient of an award at his collegiate. His teammate, Anna Hall, won the Women’s Field Athlete of the Year, while Nic Petersen was named Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year and Mike Holloway named as Men’s and Women's Coach of the Year following the conclusion of the 2022 outdoor season.

Fahnbulleh will be hoping to make more history and add additional accolades to his personal achievements when he represents Liberia at the 2022 World Outdoor Championship in Oregon, United States.