This afternoon, Kentucky Track & Field Assistant Coach Kris Grimes and senior Keaton Daniel received prestigious Southeast Region awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their outstanding achievements during the 2024 outdoor season. Daniel was named the Southeast Region’s Men’s Field Athlete of the Year, while Assistant Coach Kris Grimes was honored as the Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year.
Keaton Daniel: A Stellar Season
Keaton Daniel, hailing from Henderson, Nevada, earned his second USTFCCCA regional honor after an exceptional outdoor season. Daniel clinched the pole vault title at the 2024 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a remarkable clearance of 18’7.25”/5.67 meters. This victory marked his sixth consecutive Southeastern Conference (SEC) gold medal, secured at the SEC Outdoor Championships last month. Notably, Daniel became the first pole vaulter in Kentucky program history to sweep both the indoor and outdoor national titles in the same calendar year.
Kris Grimes: Coaching Excellence
In his sixth year as an assistant coach at Kentucky, Kris Grimes has consistently demonstrated his ability to develop elite athletes. Grimes coached Daniel to his sixth SEC gold medal and first NCAA Outdoor Championships title in the pole vault. Additionally, Grimes guided All-American Luke Brown to his first SEC gold medal and a fifth-place finish in the triple jump at the national meet. This duo’s performance was instrumental, as they scored all 14 points for the Wildcats on the national stage. Grimes, who received the same award after the indoor season, now adds a fourth USTFCCCA Assistant Coach of the Year award to his impressive resume.
Regional and National Recognition
The Southeast Region is comprised of 35 Division I schools in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky. Both Daniel and Grimes will now advance to a national ballot, which includes all regional winners, plus the coaches of the top-four placing programs at the national championships in the Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year categories.
The recognition of Keaton Daniel and Kris Grimes by the USTFCCCA highlights their exceptional contributions to the Kentucky Track & Field program. Their achievements during the 2024 outdoor season have set new benchmarks for excellence and paved the way for continued success on the national stage.
