FRISCO, Texas – Morgan Talley, a three-time 2024 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Champion, has been named the league's Women's Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year, the conference office announced on Tuesday.
 
In addition, Talley was named the league's Outstanding Field Events Performer while Cowboys' runner Alex Martin selected as the Men's Freshman of the Year and Cowgirls' runner Jeny Barcenas the Women's Newcomer of the Year.
 
Also announced on Tuesday were members of the three All-Conference teams which McNeese placed a total of 28 athletes including 12 on the first team (seven women and five men). The All-Conference distinction is awarded to the first, second and third-place finishers in each championship event final.
 
Talley, who completed her stellar collegiate career this spring, scored 36 total points for the Cowgirls, winning gold in the long jump, triple jump and the heptathlon, as she helped McNeese finish second in the team scoring in the closest margin in league history. She also finished third in the 100-meter hurdles and competed in the high jump.
 
She capped her career with a personal best mark in the triple jump at the NCAA East First Round where she just missed out on qualifying to the NCAA Championships.
 
The native of Rockwall, Texas, Talley is sixth Cowgirl selection for the league's Athlete of the Year, and first since Jasmine Webb repeated in 2013 and 2014.
 
Martin won the gold medal in the men's 800-meter to become just the third Cowboy to win the event and first since the 2011 championships. Two days prior he placed third in the 1500-meters. He joins Brad Gebauer (2007), Christoph Graf (2017) and Gideon Cheplak (2021) as other Cowboys named the league's Newcomer of the Year.
 
Barcenas dominated the 3000-meter steeplechase, winning by five seconds over the second-place runner. She's the first Cowgirl to win gold in the event and only the second to be named the SLC's Newcomer of the Year (Jasmine Webb in 2013).
 
McNeese on the All-SLC Team
First Team
Jalon White, men's 400m
Alex Martin, men's 800m
Jaden Powell, men's 400m hurdles
Amire Ledet, men's triple jump
Hunter Longino, men's javelin
Jeny Barcenas, women's 3000m steeplechase
Morgan Talley, women's long jump/women's triple jump/heptathlon
Jaslyn Russell, women's shot put
Mariah Lee, women's hammer throw
Blanche Beard, women's javelin
 
Second Team
Omer El-Fadl, men's 1500m
Marcus Francis, men's shot put
Kayla Warner, Jordan Carter, Jashyra Thomas, Kayla Harrison, women's 4x400m relay
Sakari Famous, women's high jump
Esmeralda Ruiz, women's hammer throw
Hadley Ryland, women's javelin
 
Third Team
Omer El-Fadl, men's 800m
Gilbert Kimutai, men's 10,000m
Marcus Francis, men's discus
Tyler Challis, men's hammer throw
Kayla Warner, women's 800m
Morgan Talley, women's 100m hurdles
Faith Cauthron, women's javelin