NEW ORLEANS — A trio from Lee women’s outdoor track & field represented the Gulf South Conference as the 2025 NCAA Division II Region Awards were announced by the U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Receiving individual accolades, the USTFCCCA recognized Estella Clemons as South Region Track Athlete of the Year, Liezl Theron was tabbed as the South Region Field Athlete of the Year, and Tatyiana McClendon was named South Region Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year. 

OFFICIAL RELEASE

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches at the conclusion of the 2025 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, Colorado. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.

Clemons, who hails from Cleveland, Tennessee, earned First-Team All-America honors in the 1500 meters at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Earlier in the season, Clemons scored 18 points at the GSC Championships with a victory in the 1500 and a runner-up finish in the 800.

Theron, who hails from Pretoria, South Africa, finished runner-up in the high jump in PR 1.79m (5-10½) at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships. Just a few weeks earlier, Theron won the high jump crown at the GSC Championships with a previous personal best of 1.73m.

McClendon, in her first year as assistant coach at Lee (Tenn.), coached the Flames’ jumpers and combined events athletes to score 48 points at the Gulf South Conference Championships, winning three events in helping Lee win the team title. Her top athlete, Liezl Theron, broke the program record five times this season en route to a runner-up finish at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships.