KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced its 2022-2023 Ken. B Jones winners at the Association’s 2023 Award Celebration. The female winner was Auna Childress of Pittsburg State and the male winner was Ryan Stanley of Fort Hays State
 
Two MIAA track and field student-athletes, Auna Childress and Ryan Stanley, were announced the 2022-23 Ken B. Jones winners at Tuesday night’s 2023 MIAA Award Celebration. The Ken B. Jones Award, presented by Summit Pointe Financial Group, recognizes the Association's top female and male student-athlete.
 
Below is more information on this year’s recipients. To see all ten Ken B. Jones finalists from the 2022-23 year, click here. To see a complete list of the Association’s past Ken B. Jones award winners, click here.
 
Auna Childress – Pittsburg State Track & Field
Auna Childress is a junior on the Gorillas track and field team from Lawrence, Kan. Childress swept the women’s triple jump event in the 2022-23 academic year, capturing the individual national title at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. She now owns the Division II record in the women’s triple jump with a mark of 13.37 meters (43-10½) which she set at outdoor nationals. Earlier in the season, she also bounded a wind-aided 13.47 meters (44-2½) for the third-furthest all-conditions mark in NCAA Division II history.
 
Childress was crowned a two-time MIAA champion, winning the triple jump event at both the Association’s indoor and outdoor championships. She also earned All-MIAA honors with a third-place finish in the long jump at both the in the indoor and outdoor championships. 
 
A multiple-year member as a MIAA Scholar Athlete, Childress owns a 3.82 cumulative grade point average as a nursing major. She’s also committed to over 100 hours of volunteer service to the Salvation Army and serves as a volunteer coach for area high school students.
 
Ryan Stanley – Fort Hays State Track & Field
Ryan Stanley is a senior on the Tigers track and field team from Bennington, Kan. After earning All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor National Championships, Stanley is now an eight-time All-America performer. Stanley placed fifth at the Outdoor National Championships with a height of 5.25 meters (17-2.75) and seventh at the Indoor National Championships with a height of 5.10 meters (16-8.75) to be named a 2023 First Team All-American in both events. He owned the fifth-best mark in Division II in the men’s pole vault this past season with a season-best mark of 5.36 meters (17-7), which set a new FHSU indoor record. Stanley was also crowned the Association’s individual champion in the pole vault at the 2023 MIAA Outdoor Championships with a height of 5.31 meters (17-5). He also owns the Fort Hays State outdoor pole vault program record with a personal best height of 5.42 meters (17-9.25).
 
In the classroom, Stanley has been named an CSC Academic All-American as a business administration major in undergrad with an impressive 3.95 cumulative grade point average. He's also been a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Award recipient, a three-time MIAA Academic Excellence award honoree and a five-time MIAA Scholar Athlete and an eight-time member on the MIAA’s Academic Honor Roll. 
 
Stanley currently serves as the Fort Hays State University Student Body President, helping with SGA’s Big Event for the third straight year by working with Bethesda Place, a home for disabled adults. He's also participated in Higher Education Day for the third straight year, advocating for Higher Education in Topeka. Stanley served as a volunteer guest speaker at Hays Middle School Leadership Conference, has helped coached young children at the Tigers’ Youth Night at the Track and has participated in multiple events with the Society of Human Resource Management. He has also been the VIP Ambassador with the Office of the President for three straight years.