Lincoln's Thomas named as top coach

Victor Thomas' top-ranked Lincoln women's track and field team earned him the top spot.

Thomas was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Central Region Women's Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, it was announced Friday. It's his fifth straight regional honor.

The Lincoln women are the No. 1 team at the NCAA Division II level and just won their third straight MIAA title.

Thomas, in his 12th season at the helm of the Blue Tigers, leads a team that owns the country's best times in the 60-meter, 200-meter and 4x400-meter relay.

The Blue Tigers qualified 13 athletes for 20 events in the upcoming NCAA Championships set for March 7-9 in Birmingham, Ala.