The Gulf South Conference announced its yearly track and field awards and three members of the Lee University track and field teams earned recognition. Justin Brooks was named the GSC Men’s Co-Track Athlete of the Year, while Audrey Smith was named the GSC Women’s Track Athlete of the Year. Caleb Morgan earned the designation of GSC Women’s Coach of the Year.
Brooks helped the Flames to a third-place finish at the conference meet, taking home gold in the 400-meter and silver in the 200-meter dash.
His time of 47.07 in the 400 set a new conference championship record. The junior currently ranks ninth nationally in the 400 and fifth in the 200, with provisional marks in each.
Smith earns the Track Athlete of the Year award after leading the Lady Flames to their second straight GSC title. She took gold in the 3000-meter steeplechase, 10000-meter run, and 5000-meter run, setting conference meet records in all three categories. She is now a seven-time all-conference selection in track and field and was named the Most Outstanding Track Perfomer and Most Outstanding Overall Performer at the 2018 GSC Championship. Smith currently ranks 24th in the country in Division II in the 10000 and 16th in the steeplechase.
Morgan garners GSC Coach of the Year accolades for the second straight season after winning his second straight conference championship. He helped 13 Lady Flames take home medals at the conference meet and he has coached four athletes to NCAA provisional marks so far this season.