LAKE CHARLES – McNeese track and field and cross country head coach Brendon Gilroy has announced his men's and women's most valuable athletes for the 2018-2019 indoor/outdoor and cross country seasons.
 
Cowgirl multi-event star Grace McKenzie was named the women's track and field MVP while Cowboy sprinter Tyler Smith garnered the men's MVP award.
 
McKenzie became the fourth Cowgirl in school history to earn NCAA Indoor All-American honors after an eighth place finish in the pentathlon where she set a new school, Southland Conference and Irish National record with 4,230 points.
 
In addition, she was named the Southland Conference Indoor Athlete of the Year, earned SLC All-Academic honors and All-Louisiana honors while also setting a new indoor school record in the high jump.
 
She was named McNeese Female Athlete of the Year earlier this month.
 
Smith earned All-Southland Conference honors in the 100-meters, 200-meters and in the 4x100m relays and qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in both the 100 and 200 meters.
 
During the indoor season, he won a bronze medal at the SLC Championships in the 200-meters by setting a new school record.
 
Sprinter Aleyah Donald was named the Cowgirls' Most Outstanding Track Athlete; thrower Alanna Arvie the Most Outstanding Field Athlete; distance runner Marta Lukijaniuk Women's Newcomer of the Year and Malaiya Jedkins the Cowgirls' Freshman of the Year.
 
On the men's side, Smith was also named the Cowboys' Most Outstanding Track Athlete to go along with his team MVP award; Lentz Similien Most Outstanding Field and Aaron Gilliam Freshman of the Year.
 
For women's cross country, Bonnie Andres was named MVP and Freshman of the Year while Lukijaniuk earned Newcomer of the Year honors.
 
On the men's side, Henry Kiplagat was named MVP and Newcomer of the Year while Hayden Foolkes garnered Freshman of the Year honors.