Edward Little graduate Jacob Jackson capped off his freshman college track season with all-region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The Auburn native, competing for University of Southern Maine, received the accolade for his performance in the high jump. Jackson was the third-ranked jumper in the Division III New England region this season, with a season-best leap of 1.95 meters (6 feet, 4.75 inches), which he recorded at both the Little East Conference Championship and again at the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Open New England Meet.

Jackson, a 2021 Edward Little High School graduate, was one of several athletes with area ties who received USTFCCCA All-Region honors, which were announced earlier this week.

According to a USM Athletics press release, in order to earn all-region honors, athletes must be ranked in the top five in their event — or events — or be a member of a top-three relay team.

A fellow former Red Eddie joined Jackson on the honor roll: Jillian Richardson, a junior for the Bates College women’s track team, who was one of six athletes from the Bobcats’ women’s squad to receive honors.

Richardson earned the accolade with a career-best time of 37:46.16 in the 10,000 meters at the Open New England Championships.

Other Bates women honored were Abbey Otterbein and Livia Kozick (heptathlon), Jordan Wilson and Olivia Reynolds (3,000-meter steeplechase) and Elise Lambert (800 meters).

Four Bates men’s track athletes also received USTFCCCA accolades: Liam Byrne in discus, hammer and javelin; Liam Evans in decathlon; John Mieszczanski in the 1,500 meters; and Ryan Smith in the 10,000-meter run.

NAC NAMES AWARD NOMINEES

The North Atlantic Conference unveiled its nominees from each member school for the NAC Man of the Year and Woman of the Year awards.

The awards are given to graduating senior student-athletes “who distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership,” according to a conference news release.

Leavitt Area High School graduate Stephen Gray is the Thomas College nominee for NAC Man of the Year. Gray was a three-year member of the Terriers’ track and field team and accumulated a 3.98 GPA. During his career, he set school records in the heptathlon, indoor triple jump, outdoor high jump, outdoor pole vault and the decathlon.

Dan Mickiewicz, a member of the University of Maine at Farmington golf team, is the Beavers’ Man of the Year nominee. He was a team captain his senior season and landed on the NAC Sportsmanship Team. He graduated with a 3.951 GPA.

Receiving the nomination for NAC Woman of the Year from UMaine-Farmington is McKenna Brodeur, who was a member of both the women’s soccer and women’s basketball teams. She was a four-time All-NAC selection in soccer and three-time selection in basketball, and she was named NAC Women’s Soccer Player of the Year in 2021. Brodeur graduated with a 3.745 GPA.

The NAC Woman of the Year will be announced June 30, while the NAC Man of the Year will be announced July 7.