FRISCO, Texas – McNeese Cowboy distance runner Gideon Cheplak has been named the 2021 Southland Conference Men's Track and Field Athlete of the Year the league announced Thursday. Southland yearly awards are presented by Ready Nutrition.
 
Cheplak cleaned up with this season's Southland postseason superlative honors, earning Men's Newcomer of the Year and Outstanding Runner of the Year, along with his Athlete of the Year award. He's the first men's athlete in conference history to be selected for all three awards in the same season.
 
He adds to his trophy case that already includes the 2020 SLC Cross Country Newcomer of the Year and first team all-conference as well as XC all-academic.
 
At the 2021 Southland Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Cheplak claimed gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races. After transferring to McNeese from El Paso Community College, Cheplak forced his way to the front of the pack amongst Southland distance competitors and currently ranks first in the league in the outdoor 10,000m event with his 29:33.40 finish at the 93rd Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays (March 25).
 
Northwestern State's Natashia Jackson was named the female athlete of the year. Other award winners include HBU's Christopher Welch as men's outstanding field performer, Dennis Dipngeno of A&M-Corpus Christi the men's freshman of the year, and SFA's Phil Olson men's coach of the year.
 
On the women's side, Jackson was also named the outstanding running events performer, Annina Brandenbug of ACU as outstanding field events performer, SFA's Nissi Kabongo for freshman of the year, Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon of SFA for newcomer of the year, and Olson as coach of the year.
 
In addition to Cheplak's superlative awards, he was named first team all-conference in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meter events.
 
Other Cowboy and Cowgirls joining Cheplak on the all-conference are: Grace McKenzie (1^st team, heptathlon) and Alanna Arvie (1^st team, hammer throw); McKenzie (2^nd team, long jump), Jemira Thomlinson (2^nd team, hammer throw), Donavon Banks (2^nd team, javelin); Henry Kiplagat (3^rd team, 10,000m), Malaiya Jedkins (3^rd team, triple jump), Blanche Beard (3^rd team, javelin).
 
Outdoor track & field individual awards are nominated and voted on by the league's head coaches. Voting for oneself or one's own athletes is not permitted. The top three finishers from each event's final at the championship meet are automatically named All-Southland Conference.