BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Gulf South Conference unveiled its Athletes of the Year following the 2026 indoor track & field season. All awards were voted by the Conference’s head coaches, who were not able to vote for candidates from their own team.
Lee took home three of the four women's awards. Aria Hawkins repeated as GSC Track Athlete of the Year, Liz Lannom was named GSC Field Athlete of the Year, and Caleb Morgan was unanimously named Coach of the Year. UAH’s Hekla Magnusdottir meanwhile was recognized as GSC Freshman of the Year.
- Lannom, who garnered freshman accolades last season, was named the Most Outstanding Overall Performer at the GSC Championships after she medaled four times at the GSC Championships, including two event wins.
- Hawkins is the second back-to-back recipient of the award since Celine Ritter and was previously recognized as the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the GSC Championships after winning all four individual races she competed in.
- Magnusdottir is third UAH woman to earn the award joining Zakiria Holifield (2021) and Amiah Murry (2024). At the GSC Championships, she won the women’s pentathlon, scoring a meet record 3,675 points.
- Morgan earned his seventh consecutive Coach of the Year award after leading the Lady Flames to a record seventh-straight GSC title.
Mississippi College and Lee split the men’s awards with two apiece. MC’s Jake McMillan was chosen as GSC Field Athlete of the Year and teammate Schyler Chambers was named GSC Freshman of the Year. For Lee, Pierre Chauveau was tabbed as GSC Track Athlete of the Year while Caleb Morgan took home Coach of the Year honors.
- McMillan is the first Choctaw to win the field season award since Al Ferrill (2003). At the GSC Championships, he was named the top overall and freshman performer, after winning the men’s heptathlon with meet record 5,058 points.
- Chauveau is the first Lee recipient of track season award since Christian Noble won three-in-a-row and was named Most Outstanding Track Performer after winning capturing three first-place finishes.
- Chambers is the first Choctaw to earn top freshman honors since 2021 and third all-time. He medaled four times during the season, including a first-place finish in the triple jump at GSC Championships with a meet record 14.93m leap.
- Morgan earned his fourth GSC coaching award since 2000 after directing the Flames to the program’s fourth conference title.
The Gulf South also announced its All-GSC performers for the 2026 season. Honorees were determined based on their finish during the GSC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The women's squad is available here, while the men's team can be seen here.
2026 GSC Women’s Indoor Track & Field Season Awards
Field Athlete of the Year: Liz Lannom, Lee
Track Athlete of the Year: Aria Hawkins, Lee
Freshman Athlete of the Year: Hekla Magnusdottir, UAH
Coach Athlete of the Year: Caleb Morgan, Lee
All-GSC Performers (pdf)
2026 GSC Men’s Indoor Track & Field Season Awards
Field Athlete of the Year: Jake McMillan, Mississippi College
Track Athlete of the Year: Pierre Chauveau, Lee
Freshman Athlete of the Year: Schyler Chambers, Mississippi College
Coach Athlete of the Year: Caleb Morgan, Lee
All-GSC Performers (pdf)