COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Dakota Abbott, who wrapped up an illustrious track and field career at University of Colorado Colorado Springs, has been named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Man of the Year Honorable Mention, announced Monday morning.
 
The Amhest, Neb. native is pursuing a Masters of Business Administration at UCCS after earning an undergraduate degree in Business Administration.  An eight-time All-American, Abbott earned All-America First Team accolades in the triple at the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor championships after posting a Second Team All-America performance at the Indoor championship meet. Abbott has collected seven United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association all-region honors between the triple jump and long jump.  He bested all competitors at the 2021 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships to win the triple jump and claim the individual title. 
 
In five seasons with the Mountain Lions, Abbott garnered eight All-RMAC First Team accolades, two RMAC Field Athlete of the Week honors, and was named back-to-back RMAC Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2021 and 2022.  He has helped the Mountain Lions win four straight RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championship titles and three straight RMAC Outdoor Track & Field titles while being a part of a Mountain Lion squad that has placed in the top 26 at the last seven NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor championships.
 
Selected as the 2022 UCCS Male Athlete of the Year and the 2023 UCCS Thomas McLaughlin award winner, Abbott boasts a 3.580 GPA in his MBA program after securing a 3.502 GPA as an undergraduate student. Voted to the 2022 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Third Team, Abbott has received Academic All-District recognition the past two years, including being named to the 2022 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.  He has tallied six RMAC All-Academic honors, including a selection to the 2022 RMAC Indoor and Outdoor First Teams. The 6-foot-4 jumper owns school records in the triple jump for both the indoor (15.77m) and outdoor (15.87m) seasons.
 
In the community, Abbott has represented the Mountain Lions with community service projects that include reading to students at a local elementary school, raising funds for Make-A-Wish foundation, donating food to the UCCS annual food drive, and being a team leader at Landshark Running Club and Leader U.

Harrison Rodgers of Colorado Mesa University was tabbed the 2022-23 RMAC Man of the Year. The RMAC Man of the Year awards honor graduating student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their college career in areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, community service and leadership.
 
RMAC Man of the Year Honorable Mention:
Noah Hermosillo, Adams State; Ryder Blair, Black Hills State; Harley Rhoades, Chadron State; Nate Miller, CSU Pueblo; Max Hyson, Fort Lewis; Eric Cox, MSU Denver; Kristian Hooker, Regis; Dakota Abbott, UCCS.

For everything UCCS Athletics, follow the Mountain Lions on social media and stay tuned to gomountainlions.com.
 
SOCIAL
Twitter – @GoMountainLions
Instagram – @gomountainlions
Facebook – GoMountainLions