Another year, another honor for Victor Thomas.
The Lincoln track and field coach was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Women's Coach of the Year.
It's the third straight year Thomas has won the award after leading the Blue Tigers to their third straight conference championship. He has the women in position to possibly win the school's seventh NCAA Division II outdoor national championship, as the event begins May 23 in Pueblo, Colo.
Pittsburg State coach Russ Jewett was honored on the men's side.
The Blue Tiger women fell to No. 2 in the latest national rankings from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Lincoln, which has been back and forth between first and second all season, was bested this week by Grand Canyon (Ariz.), which received 231.97 points. Lincoln has 227.97, Grand Valley State (Mich.) is third with 200.50 and Academy of Art (Calif.) is fourth with 198.75.
Three other MIAA teams are ranked in the top 25, including Missouri Southern at No. 21, Pittsburg State at No. 22 and Central Missouri at No. 23.
Lincoln will have 15 athletes participating in 24 events at nationals.
The Lincoln men are the highest rated MIAA team, coming in at No. 8 with 109.06 points. Other MIAA schools are Pittsburg State at No. 12, Missouri Southern at No. 14, Central Missouri at No. 15 and Emporia State at No. 23.
Defending national champion Adams State (Colo.) is ranked No. 1 and Saint Augustine's (N.C.) is second.
The Lincoln men qualified six athletes in nine events for the national championships.