NEW ORLEANS, La. - Lamar University's women's track and field teams put together their best season to date as they won their first ever Southland Conference championship while also having three members qualify for the NCAA Regionals. The accolades continue to come for the Cardinals as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) unveiled their All-Academic Athletes for the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Track & Field seasons. Yasmin Austridge, Parl Eelma, and Faith Outing were all named members of this honor.

To be considered for this honor, athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale in the most recent grading period and must have either finished in the top 96 nationally in an individual event or in the top 48 in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS during the indoor season or must have participated in any round of the NCAA D1 championships including preliminary rounds and/or finish in the top 48 in the East or West regions during the outdoor season.

Austridge (London, England) earned a Master's in Business Administration this past year. Completing her Cardinal career in style, she managed a total of 17 top-10 finishes, 16 top-fives, seven firsts, and school records smashed in the DMR, 800m, and the 3000m steeplechase. This three-time SLC Women's Track Athlete of the Week honoree received four first team honors with two (800m, DMR) coming in the SLC Indoor Championships and two (800m, 3000S) in the Outdoor Championships. Her season would end in the NCAA West Regionals.

Eelma (Tallinn, Estonia) would also receive a Master of Business Administration this past year. She collected 20 top-10 finishes in the 2023 campaign and was a conference champion in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. She won the pentathlon in the indoors and set a school record in the heptathlon in the outdoor circuit while collecting two first team honors. In addition, Eelma was a third team all-conference member in the outdoor long jump event and received the honor of being named the SLC Outstanding Women's Field Athlete of the Year.

Outing (Leesville, La.) was selected for this award while majoring in Exercise Science-Kinesiology. This past year saw her nab 15 top-10's, including four first place finishes. Like Austridge, she was a first team member in the DMR at the Indoor Championships. Twice was she named a third team member in both the 400m (breaking a school record) and the 4x400m events outdoors. She too would qualify for the NCAA West Regionals.

In addition, LU's women's track and field team was also given a spot on the All-Academic teams with. The Cardinals qualified by meeting the criteria of having a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the most recent grading period finishing with 3.24.
 

#WeAreLU