LSC Outdoor Track and Field awards announced - Lone Star Conference Skip To Main Content

Men's Track and Field

LSC Outdoor Track and Field awards announced


Angelo State's Rami Balti and West Texas A&M's Fran Bonifacic, Deborah Acheampong and Esther Conde-Turpin claimed Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field individual honors to highlight the league's postseason awards, which were announced Tuesday (May 19) by the league office.
 
The LSC honored 133 student-athletes for their efforts at the 2026 LSC Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held May 7-9 in Canyon, Texas.
 
Balti won the Cap Shelton Award, which goes to the most outstanding male track athlete. He won the 400 meters with a 45.83 and was part of the Rams' gold medal-winning 4x400 meter relay team (3:06.40).
 
Bonifacic claimed the Oscar Strahan Award, which is given to the most outstanding male field athlete. He was the high point male athlete (24). He earned points in the javelin (60.71m), high jump (1.93m), pole vault (4.98m), 110 meter hurdles (14.43m) and discus (45.25m). Bonifacic took silver in the javelin and bronze in the high jump.
 
Acheampong earned the Wes Kittley Award, which goes to the most outstanding female track athlete. She took home three gold medals. Acheampong ran the 100 meters (11.46) and 200 meters (23.17), and was a part of the Lady Buffs' 4x100 meter relay team (44.94).
 
Conde-Turpin was voted winner of the David Noble Award, which is given to the most outstanding female track athlete. She totaled a meet-high 38.5 points. Conde-Turpin won the long jump (6.37m), javelin (44.21m), 110 hurdles (13.44), and was a part of WT's gold medal 4x100-meter relay team (44.94). She also placed third in the high jump (1.68m).
 
ASU's Tom Dibbern won LSC Men's Coach of the Year honors after guiding a runner-up finish at the conference met and eight individual titles. WT's Matt Stewart won Women's Coach of the Year honors for the sixth consecutive year after leading the Lady Buffs to a sixth straight conference title.
 
The list of all-conference performers includes the first team, which consists of event winners, all members of the winning relay teams, and athletes scoring 14 or more points at the LSC Championships. The second team includes athletes on the second-place relay teams and those scoring 8-13.9 points, while the third team recognizes members of third-place relay teams and athletes scoring 6-7.9 points. The individual awards were voted upon by the league coaches.
 
The 2026 NCAA Division II Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships are May 21-23 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kan. 
 

2026 LSC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS

The all-conference first team consists of event winners, including all members of the winning relay teams and athletes scoring 14 or more points at the LSC Championships. The all-conference second team consists of all members of the second-place relay teams and athletes scoring 8-13.9 points. The all-conference third team consists of all members of the third-place relay teams and athletes scoring 6-7.9 points.

 
MEN'S ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
 
SPECIAL AWARDS
Outstanding Track Athlete - Cap Shelton Award: Rami Balti, Angelo State
Outstanding Field Athlete - Oscar Strahan Award: Fran Bonifacic, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Tom Dibbern, Angelo State
 
Athletes with same point totals are sorted in alphabetical order by team name

First Team                                                                                          
Athlete  Team  Year Points Event(s) winner
Fran Bonifacic West Texas A&M So. 20
Christopher Gonzalez Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 19.5
Tobias Ritter West Texas A&M Jr. 18 5,000
Jahleel Armstrong Angelo State Jr. 16.5 4x400
Vanam Sharma Angelo State Jr. 16
Kobi Valchar Angelo State Jr. 16
Alexander Bozhilov UT Dallas Jr. 15 10,000
Ausencio Martinez Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 14 200
Tommaso Toppi West Texas A&M Jr. 14
Andre Smikle Eastern New Mexico Jr. 13 Discus
Rami Balti Angelo State Sr. 12.5 400, 4x400
William Opare Angelo State Fr. 12.5 100, 4x100
Isaac Pendley DBU Sr. 12 3,000 Steeplechase
Emil Meggle West Texas A&M So. 11 800
Francis Patanpatan Angelo State Fr. 10.5 4x100
Jaime Moreno Angelo State Fr. 10 Javelin
Reece Waddell Angelo State Fr. 10 400 Hurdles
Davyon Williams Angelo State Jr. 10 High Jump
Jonathan Wright Angelo State So. 10 Pole Vault
Cooper Burges Eastern New Mexico Jr. 10 Long Jump
Kameron Shropshire Oklahoma Christian Sr. 10 Hammer Throw
Brandon Arenas UT Tyler Sr. 10 110 Hurdles
Chris Kopecky UT Tyler So. 10 1,500
Mahmoud Ibrahim West Texas A&M Fr. 10 Shot Put
Nikolas Kosmopoulos West Texas A&M Fr. 10 Decathlon
Oyeyoni Oyewale-Johnson West Texas A&M Jr. 10 Triple Jump
Taylor Briggs Angelo State So. 5 4x400, 4x100
Bautista Diamate Angelo State Jr. 5 4x400, 4x100

Second Team                                                                                      
Athlete  Team  Year Points
Maurice Gray Lubbock Christian Jr. 11
Austin Ponder UT Tyler Jr. 11
Hunter Rivet UT Tyler Fr. 11
Joshua Dunn DBU Fr. 10
Devon Falco Eastern New Mexico Fr. 9
Thomas Aerdts Eastern New Mexico So. 8
Alfons Rawall Lubbock Christian Jr. 8
Daniel Sianez Lubbock Christian So. 8
Roberto Alejandro Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 8
Jason Gordon Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 8
Jhonatan Rodriquez Osorno Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 8
Gage Upton Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 8
Dameon Smith Jr. UT Tyler Fr. 8
Jakai Timmons UT Tyler Fr. 8
Isaac Botsio West Texas A&M Sr. 8
Preston Ayers UT Tyler Fr. 7
DaTavus Pope Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 6
Malachi Barendilla Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 2
Zachary Paul UT Tyler So. 2
Dakalon Tyler UT Tyler Fr. 2

Third Team                                                                           
Athlete  Team  Year Points
Dylan Bennett UT Tyler So. 7.5
Fintan Kavanagh West Texas A&M Jr. 7.5
Jeremiah King Angelo State Fr. 7
Jeremiah Bonano West Texas A&M Jr. 7
Bryon Pruitt Eastern New Mexico Sr. 6.5
Hassani Myers Angelo State Fr. 6
Manny Chavez Eastern New Mexico Fr. 6
Strahinja Radakovic Eastern New Mexico So. 6
Matthew Cordero Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 6
Jayden McCoy Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 6
Django Segovia Texas A&M-Kingsville Sr. 6
Caden Soliz Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 6
Adrian Solis West Texas A&M Sr. 6
Berry Cox West Texas A&M Sr. 6
Karl Patanpatan Angelo State Fr. 6
Jeremiah Evans UT Tyler Jr. 6
Gaige Gordey UT Tyler Fr. 6
Darius Bouakel Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 1.5
Joseph Mouaha Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 1.5
Austin Villanueva Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 1.5
Ashton Bates UT Tyler Sr. 1.5
Jackson Crysup UT Tyler Jr. 1.5
Landon Smith UT Tyler So. 1.5


WOMEN'S ALL-CONFERENCE PERFORMERS
 
SPECIAL AWARDS 
Outstanding Track Athlete - Wes Kittley Award: Deborah Acheampong, West Texas A&M
Outstanding Field Athlete - David Noble Award: Esther Conde-Turpin, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Matt Stewart, West Texas A&M

Athletes with same point totals are sorted in alphabetical order by team name
 
First Team                                                                                         
Athlete  Team  Year Points Event(s) winner
Esther Conde-Turpin West Texas A&M Sr. 38.5 Long Jump, Javelin, 110 Hurdles, 4x100
Aerin Thompson UT Tyler Sr. 24.5 4x400
Deborah Acheampong West Texas A&M Jr. 22.5 200, 100, 4x100
Kennedy Ulmer Eastern New Mexico Sr. 21
Abigail Abugire West Texas A&M So. 20 1,500, 800
Naomi Addo West Texas A&M So. 20 10,000, 5,000
Juliane Frueh UT Tyler Sr. 20 Heptathlon, High Jump
Blessing Akintoye West Texas A&M Jr. 18.5 400, 4x100
Lesli Salas DBU Jr. 16
Jada Owens UT Tyler So. 14 Shot Put
Yosiris Cordoba Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 12 Discus
Emiliia Tangara West Texas A&M Fr. 12 400 Hurdles
Eliette Chaput West Texas A&M Sr. 11 3,000 Steeplechase
Marie Schuler Angelo State Sr. 10 Hammer Throw
Kenzie Kurdys Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 10 Pole Vault
Leidy Cuesta West Texas A&M So. 10 Triple Jump
Hannah Lakin UT Tyler So. 8.5 4x400
Priscilla Anaglo West Texas A&M Fr. 7.5 4x100
Kamarla Carr UT Tyler Jr. 6.5 4x400
Jasmine Haywood UT Tyler Jr. 2.5 4x400

Second Team                                                                                      
Athlete  Team  Year Points
LaNiyah Curry Oklahoma Christian So. 13.5
Kennedy Johnson Midwestern State So. 13
Oneika Brissett Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 12.5
Kinlee Lawlis Angelo State Fr. 12
Kaylea Demetrius Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 12
Kalkidan Vincendeau West Texas A&M Sr. 12
Abril Okon Angelo State Jr. 10.5
Whitney Willeford DBU Sr. 10
Kedan Burch West Texas A&M Fr. 10
Sierra Cornell West Texas A&M Fr. 10
Asana Hamidu West Texas A&M Sr. 10
Nyla Bentley Oklahoma Christian Fr. 9.5
Cierra Wheeler DBU Jr. 9
Olivia Weider Lubbock Christian Gr. 9
Julie Lafare West Texas A&M Sr. 9
Aubrey Lozoya Western New Mexico Sr. 9
Esma Pajt Angelo State Gr. 8
Kylie Himes DBU Jr. 8
Drew Grellhesl Lubbock Christian Jr. 8
Ella Pando Midwestern State Sr. 8
Paisley Janssen Texas A&M-Kingsville Fr. 8
Sarah Koomson West Texas A&M Jr. 8
Kylie Frush Angelo State Sr. 2
Shackella Green Angelo State Sr. 2
Alliyah Harrison Angelo State Jr. 2
Cassandra Uribe West Texas A&M Jr. 2
                                         
Third Team                                                                           
Athlete  Team  Year Points
Lainey Jernigan Angelo State So. 7
Sandra Appiah West Texas A&M Sr. 7
Ellie Frye DBU Sr. 6.75
Ekaterina Fedotova Angelo State Jr. 6
Vivica Addison Eastern New Mexico So. 6
Celina Thomas Eastern New Mexico Jr. 6
Karina Alvarez Texas A&M-Kingsville Jr. 6
Zakaiya Hunte UT Tyler Fr. 6
Isabel Jakobsen UT Tyler Jr. 6
Bella Kenney West Texas A&M Sr. 6
Hope Gray West Texas A&M Sr. 6
Katie Bosley Oklahoma Christian Jr. 1.5
Hadleigh Harper Oklahoma Christian Fr. 1.5
Jazmine Miller Texas A&M-Kingsville Sr. 1.5
Valentina Torres Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 1.5
Sakara Wade Texas A&M-Kingsville So. 1.5