Perez and Webster Repeat in Top Awards

For the second consecutive outdoor season, Elijah Perez and Dylan Webster walk away as the SLIAC's top performers in Track and Field; headlining the 2023 All-Conference award winners.

Perez, a graduate student from Webster University, was selected as the Track Athlete of the Year. Perez picked up four medals at this year's championship including a pair of golds. He won his first-ever individual gold medal, winning the 200-meter dash. He was also the anchor in the Gorloks gold medal 4x100 relay team and showed his versatility by leading off the bronze-winning 4x400 relay team. He also collected a bronze in the 100-meter dash. 

Webster, a senior at Greenville University, was named the Field Athlete of the Year. Webster takes home his second straight award after becoming the career leader in both gold medals (7) and total medals (14) in SLIAC Men's Outdoor Track and Field history. Webster competed in five events at this year's championship, walking away with 4 golds and 5 total medals. He set a new conference record with four gold medals in one championship, winning the high jump, long jump, triple jump, and 110-meter hurdles. Silver in the pole vault helped him tie the conference mark for most medals in a championship. 

Tyree Simms becomes the first athlete from Fontbonne University to receive the Field Newcomer of the Year award. The freshman took home three medals including gold in the shot put. He is the first Griffin to win a medal in a throwing event at the SLIAC Championships and just the second ever to win a medal, joining Dwayne Elliot in 1991. Simms also finished 2nd in the discus, 3rd in the javelin, and 6th in the hammer throw. 

This year's Track Newcomer of the Year is Nana Koranteng, from Principia College. Koranteng participated in three events for the Panthers, picking up two medals. He won bronze in the 400-meter run and was the anchor in the Panthers' 4x400 relay team. The freshman was placed 4th in the 800-meter run. He is the second athlete from Principia to win the Track Newcomer of the Year award, following Corey Carter in 2018. 

Eureka College was selected by league coaches to receive the Team Sportsmanship award, the first win in program history, while Greenville University took home the Coaching Staff of the Year award after winning a 6th consecutive title. 

All-Sportsmanship Team