DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University freshman sprinter Zaiyon Evans was named Outdoor Track Rookie of the Year as the Virginia Sports Information Directors announced its College Division All-State Team for men's indoor track and field on Monday. Evans and freshman thrower Mark Linton also garnered VaSID All-State First Team honors.

Evans, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, placed 13th in the 100-meter sprint at the NCAA Division III outdoor national championships to earn Second Team All American honors. He placed second in the 100-meter sprint at the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships and first in the 200-meter to earn All-ODAC First and Second Team honors. Evans set program records in both 100 and 200-meter and was named Freshman Male Athlete of the Year at Averett's Night of Champions in combination to his success during outdoor track season. Evans also earned VaSID All-State Second Team honors for indoor track this season.

Linton, a native of Orange Bay, Jamaica, helped rewrite the Cougars' record books over the course of his freshman campaign in which he earned NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field All-Region recognition in the discus event from the U.S.Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) this spring. Nationally ranked in the discus event throughout the season, Linton peaked as high as 16th in the D3 national rankings. Linton shined among his peers in addition to achieving national recognition, winning the Old Dominion Athletic Conference championship in discus with a 44.69-meter throw. Linton dominated from start to finish for Averett, holding the top-five overall distances on the season, and in program history, including his record setting 49.32-meter throw at the 2024 Mount Olive Final Qualifier.

The VaSID College Division is comprised of all non-Division I schools in Virginia.


2024 VaSID College Division All-State Outdoor Men's Track & Field Teams:
Track Athlete of the Year: Sam Llaneza, Lynchburg
Field Athlete of the Year: Markus White, Virginia State
Track Rookie of the Year: Zaiyon Evans, Averett
Field Rookie of the Year: Markus White, Virginia State
Coach of the Year: Jim Sprecher, Lynchburg

First Team
4x100-Relay - Spradlin, Bolich, Hill, Fowler, Roanoke
4x400-Relay - Hinton, Tucker, Phifer, Balde, Virginia Union
Decathlon - Jayden Watkins, Randolph
Distance - Chasen Hunt, Lynchburg
Distance - Frank Csorba, Lynchburg
Distance - Jonathan Cobb, Lynchburg
Hurdles - Jalen Hinton, Virginia Union
Hurdles - Ja'Marri Henderson, Virginia Wesleyan
Jumps - Andre Lucas, Southern Virginia
Jumps - Markus White, Virginia State
Jumps - CJ Reeders, Christopher Newport
Jumps - Montrell Covill, Bryant & Stratton
Mid-Distance - Sam Llaneza, Lynchburg
Mid-Distance - Chasen Hunt, Lynchburg
Sprints - Zaiyon Evans, Averett
Sprints - Brady Fowler, Roanoke
Sprints - Jacinto Jones II, Mary Washington
Throws - Mike Smith, Bridgewater
Throws - George Mann, Washington and Lee
Throws - Tyler Palmer, Christopher Newport
Throws - Mark Linton, Averett

Second Team
4x100-Relay - Hamm, Church, McPherson, Blackburn, Ferrum
4x400-Relay - Kwakye, Jacobs, Flowers, Hodnett, Lynchburg
Decathlon - Dwight James, Bryant & Stratton
Distance - Cooper Hurst, Lynchburg
Distance - Bryce Davis, Lynchburg
Distance - Sam Llaneza, Lynchburg
Hurdles - Javon Hills, Virginia Wesleyan
Hurdles - Savion Spencer, Virginia State
Jumps - Jordan Hall, Virginia Wesleyan
Jumps - Kevin Cropper, Regent
Jumps - Joseph Briscoe, Virginia State
Jumps - Wade Dunkelberger, Christopher Newport
Mid-Distance - Desmond Kirwa, Virginia State
Mid-Distance - Daniel Ferrante, Christopher Newport
Mid-Distance - Cody Thompson, Randolph
Sprints - Alpha Balde, Virginia Union
Sprints - Jalen Hinton, Virginia Union
Sprints - Michael Rose, Regent
Sprints - Eric West, Randolph
Throws - Mark Banberger, Virginia State
Throws - Dante Ntiganzwa, Christopher Newport
Throws - Adam Roy, Washington and Lee
Throws - Zachary Jones, Virginia Union