FRISCO, Texas – McNeese's Morgan Talley and Lamar's Kenson Tate are the 2024 Southland Conference Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Athletes of the Year, the league announced Monday. Alongside the superlative awards, the outdoor all-conference rosters were also announced.
Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field superlative awards are nominated and voted upon by the league’s head coaches. Voting for oneself or one’s own athletes is not permitted. All-conference distinction is given to the first-, second- and third-place finishers in each championship event final.
Men’s Outstanding Field Events Performer – Kyle Sieracki, UIW
Kyle Sieracki had himself quite the spring in the SLC. He found himself on the medal stand three times at the conference championships, coming in second in the men's javelin and winning the pole vault and decathlon.
Men’s Outstanding Running Events Performer – Griffin Neal, UIW
Griffin Neal ran his way right into this award as he took home the gold in both the 5,000-meter run and the 10,000-meter run.
Men’s Freshman of the Year – Alex Martin, McNeese
Freshman Alex, Martin made a splash taking home the gold medal in the 800-meter run, and found himself on the podium again, taking third place in the 1500-meter run
Men’s Newcomer of the Year – John Adesola, UNO
John Adesola grabbed a gold medal in an exciting 110-meter hurdle race. He also competed on the third-place 4x100-meter relay.
Men’s Athlete of the Year – Kenson Tate, Lamar
Kenson Tate was outstanding this year winning the men's long jump and competing in the 5th place 4x100 relay as well as both the 100-meter dash & the 200-meter dash.
Leon Johnson Award (Men’s Coach of the Year) – Dr. Derek Riedel, UIW
Coach Riedel finds himself as the recipient of the Leon Johnson Award as Men’s Coach of the Year yet again. He lead the Cardinals to the team championship with 167 points. The Cards grabbed both the 2024 Indoor Championship & the 2024 Outdoor Championship.
Women’s Athlete of the Year & Outstanding Field Events Performer – Morgan Talley, McNeese
Morgan Talley scored 36 points for the Cowgirls and became a familiar face at the podium. She took home the gold in the women's long jump, triple jump, and heptathlon. She grabbed third place in the 100-meter hurdles and competed in the high jump as well.
Outstanding Running Events Performer – Brianna Howard, Lamar
Brianna Howard took home the gold in both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash and was also a part of the gold medal 4x100-meter relay.
Women’s Freshman of the Year – Onyah Favour, Southeastern
Onyah Favour grabbed two fourth-place spots in a fast 400-meter dash field and was also a part of the fourth-place 4x400-meter relay.
Women’s Newcomer of the Year – Jeny Barcenas, McNeese
Jeny Barcenas dominated the 3000-meter steeplechase, taking home a gold medal and she also placed fifth in the 1500-meter run.
Women’s Coach of the Year – Mike Heimerman
Coach Heimerman won coach of the year honors after pushing the Demons to a 182.5 point victory. The Demons took home the 2024 championships in both Indoor & Outdoor.
2024 Southland Conference Men’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams
| Event |
First |
Second |
Third |
| 100 meter dash |
Ibrahim Fuseini, TAMUC |
Zachaeus Beard, NSU |
Keontae Gaines, NSU |
| 200 meter dash |
Ibrahim Fuseini, TAMUC |
Zachaeus Beard, NSU |
Cyrus Jacobs, NSU |
| 400 meter dash |
Jalon White, McNeese |
Cyrus Jacobs, NSU |
Javon-Taye Williams, SLU |
| 800 meter run |
Alex Martin, McNeese |
Krzysztof Turski, HCU |
Omer El-Fadl, McNeese |
| 1,500 meter run |
Alex Piquart, HCU |
Omer El-Fadl, McNeese |
Freddy Richardson, LU |
| 5,000 meter run |
Griffin Neal, UIW |
Kelvin Kimaiyo, AMCC |
Dennis Kipngeno, AMCC |
| 10,000 meter run |
Griffin Neal, UIW |
Kelvin Kimaiyo, AMCC |
Gilbert Kimutai, McNeese |
| 110 meter hurdles |
John Adesola, UNO |
Jorim Bangue, UNO |
Taj Morris, NSU |
| 400 meter hurdles |
Jaden Powell, McNeese |
Ethan Ellis, LU |
Denzel Hinds, HCU |
| 3,000 meter steeplechase |
Christopher Daniels, UIW |
Nicholas Deutsch, TAMUC |
Eric Pineda, UIW |
| 4x100 meter relay |
Zachaeus Beard, Cyrus Jacobs, Keontae Gaines, Mikkel Johansson– NSU |
Tyke Owens, Oguz Uyar, Enoch Fosuhene, Ibrahim Fuseini – TAMUC |
Christopher Murphy, John Adesola, Darryl George Jr., Madonna Favour– UNO |
| 4x400 meter relay |
Enoch Fosuhene, Philip Krenek, Ziphion Reevey, Ibrahim Fuseini– TAMUC |
Desmond Duncan, Cyrus Jacobs, Zachaeus Beard, Jaysaun Smith – NSU |
Ethan Ellis, Christian Johnson, Jaylon Robers, Cameron Chin - LU |
| High Jump |
Slavko Stevic, SLU |
Justine Jimoh, TAMUC |
Randy Kelly, NSU |
| Pole Vault |
Kyle Sieracki, UIW |
Josiah Martinez, UIW |
Isaiah Hudgens, UIW |
| Long Jump |
Kenson Tate, Lamar |
Christopher Murphy, UNO |
Justice Jones, UIW |
| Triple Jump |
Amire Ledet, McNeese |
Jacarius Demmerritte, LU |
Andrew Gilreath, NSU |
| Shot Put |
Djimon Gumbs, NSU |
Marcus Francis, McNeese |
Donroy Brown, SLU |
| Discus Throw |
Diamante Gumbs, NSU |
Djimon Gumbs, NSU |
Marcus Francis, McNeese |
| Hammer Throw |
Terrell Webb, SLU |
Diamante Gumbs, NSU |
Tyler Challis, McNeese |
| Javelin Throw |
Hunter Longino, McNeese |
Kyle Sieracki, UIW |
Gabriel Lim, SLU |
| Decathlon |
Kyle Sieracki, UIW |
Isaiah Hudgens, UIW |
Scott Boon, HCU |
2023 Southland Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field All-Conference Teams
| Event |
First |
Second |
Third |
| 100 meter dash |
Brianna Howard, LU |
Sydne Porter, LU |
Capri Wilson, AMCC |
| 200 meter dash |
Brianna Howard, LU |
Sanaria Butler, NSU |
Maygan Shaw, NSU |
| 400 meter dash |
Sanaria Butler, NSU |
Maygan Shaw, NSU |
Vanessa Balde, NSU |
| 800 meter run |
Jessica Rabius, HCU |
Sophia Wolf, UNO |
Kayla Warner, McNeese |
| 1,500 meter run |
Jessica Rabius, HCU |
Alexandra Weir, UNO |
Cara Inch, LU |
| 5,000 meter run |
Nia Clatworthy, Lamar |
Rebecca DeKay, UNO |
Cara Inch, LU |
| 10,000 meter run |
Rebecca DeKay, UNO |
Nia Clatworthy, Lamar |
Irene Bonanomi, UNO |
| 100 meter hurdles |
Vanessa Balde, NSU |
Kayli Johnson, LU |
Morgan Talley, McNeese |
| 400 meter hurdles |
Chloe Rodriguez, LU |
Esther Nwanze, SLU |
Dasya Tolbert, UIW |
| 3,000 meter steeplechase |
Jeny Barcenas, McNeese |
Ashlyn Royal, UIW |
Destiny Quintanilla, HCU |
| 4x100 meter relay |
Brianna Howard, Kayla Smith, Kayli Johnson, Sydne Porter – LU |
Khiah Lara-Turner, Capri Wilson, Erial Fontenot, Nia Hampton, AMCC |
Lynelle Washington, Maygan Shaw, Vanessa Balde, Sanaria Butler– NSU |
| 4x400 meter relay |
Maygan Shaw, Vanessa Balde, Tranasia Jones, Sanaria Butler – NSU |
Kayla Warner, Jordan Carter, Jashyra Thomas, Kayla Harrison - McNeese |
Faith Outing, Kayla Smith, Adebola Odunlami, Chloe Rodriguez – LU |
| High Jump |
Jenneil Jacobie, TAMUC |
Sakari Famous, McNeese |
Veronika Kramarenko, TAMUC |
| Pole Vault |
Alisa Novosad, UIW |
Annemarie Broussard, NSU |
Madison Brown, NSU |
| Long Jump |
Morgan Talley, McNeese |
Sanaria Butler, NSU |
Kayli Johnson, LU |
| Triple Jump |
Morgan Talley, McNeese |
Jaslyn Smith, NSU |
Myla Tate, AMCC |
| Shot Put |
Jaslyn Russell, McNeese |
Shakera Williams, NSU |
Sa'Niya Fowler, UIW |
| Discus Throw |
Shakera Kirk, NSU |
Liza Lap, HCU |
Cassandra Rendon, TAMUC |
| Hammer Throw |
Mariah Lee, McN |
Esmeralda Ruiz, McNeese |
Bernesha Knowles, NSU |
| Javelin Throw |
Blanche Beard, McNeese |
Hadley Ryland, McNeese |
Faith Cauthron, McNeese |
| Heptathlon |
Morgan Talley, McNeese |
Raven-Symone Jarrett, NSU |
Clemence Varin, LU |