- LSC Academic Release
- LSC Awards Release

CANYON, TEXAS – West Texas A&M's Fran Bonifacic, Deborah Acheampong and Esther Conde-Turpin claimed Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field individual honors to highlight the league's postseason awards, which were announced Tuesday by the league office in Richardson, Texas.
 
The LSC honored 133 student-athletes for their efforts at the 2026 LSC Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held May 7-9 in Canyon, Texas.
 
Bonifacic claimed the Oscar Strahan Award, which is given to the most outstanding male field athlete. He was the high point male athlete (24). He earned points in the javelin (60.71m), high jump (1.93m), pole vault (4.98m), 110m meter hurdles (14.43m) and discus (45.25m). Bonifacic took silver in the javelin and bronze in the high jump.
 
Acheampong earned the Wes Kittley Award, which goes to the most outstanding female track athlete. She took home three gold medals. Acheampong ran the 100 meters (11.46) and 200 meters (23.17) and was a part of the Lady Buffs' 4x100 meter relay team (44.94).
 
Conde-Turpin was voted winner of the David Noble Award, which is given to the most outstanding female track athlete. She totaled a meet-high 38.5 points. Conde-Turpin won the long jump (6.37m), javelin (44.21m), 110 hurdles (13.44), and was a part of WT's gold medal 4x100-meter relay team (44.94). She also placed third in the high jump (1.68m).
 
WT's Matt Stewart won Women's Coach of the Year honors for the sixth consecutive year after leading the Lady Buffs to a sixth straight conference title.
 
Rami Balti of Angelo State won the Cap Shelton Award, which goes to the most outstanding male track athlete. He won the 400 meters with a 45.83 and was part of the Rams' gold medal-winning 4x400 meter relay team (3:06.40). ASU's Tom Dibbern won LSC Men's Coach of the Year honors after guiding a runner-up finish at the conference met and eight individual titles.
 
Chris Kopecky and Juliane Frueh from UT Tyler were selected as the 2026 Lone Star Conference Outdoor Track and Field Academic Athletes of the Year.
 
Specialty Awards
Outstanding Field Athlete - Oscar Strahan Award: Fran Bonifacic, West Texas A&M
Outstanding Track Athlete - Wes Kittley Award: Deborah Acheampong, West Texas A&M
Outstanding Field Athlete - David Noble Award: Esther Conde-Turpin, West Texas A&M
Coach of the Year: Matt Stewart, West Texas A&M
 
All-Academic Honors
Isaac Botsio - Sr. - Environmental Science
James Dadzie - Sr. – Agribusiness
Deborah Acheampong - Jr. - Sports & Exercise Science
Blessing Akintoye - Jr. - Health Science
Eliette Chaput - Sr. - Marketing
Kalkidan Vincendeau - Sr. - Sports & Exercise Science