RELATED LINKS: GSC Release
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Gulf South Conference released its annual superlative awards for the 2024 season for track and field on Monday. After a stellar season on the sprints, graduate student
Yakubu Balikis was honored as the league's Women's Track Athlete of the Year.
Voted on by the league's head coaches, she was a unanimous selection for the award. Additionally, she is the second student-athlete in program history to win the Track Athlete of the Year, joining Cecelia David in 2016.
Coming off First Team selections in the 100 and 200 meters at the GSC Championships, she set new UWA records and new marks at the championships. Additionally, her times are the fastest in the GSC and the South Region.
The Lagos, Nigeria native took gold in the 100 with an 11.27 from Montevallo on May 2. At the end of the 2024 season, she is also fourth in Division II in the event.
In the 200 meters, she ran a 23.16 to pace the field at the conference meet and is currently tied for sixth in the country with Deborah Acheampong of West Texas A&M.
Over the course of the season, Balikis has medaled 14 times during the 2024 season, including nine gold medal finishes.
With marks in the top 10 in both events, Balikis should qualify for the national championship. The 2024 NCAA Division II Track and Field selections will be announced on Tuesday evening via an NCAA.com press release.
Also announced on Monday were the All-Conference selections for track and field. These performances were based on the GSC Championships earlier this month at Montevallo. First place finishers earned First Team honors, followed by second place for Second Team.
Nesha Bourrage joins Balikis at the top of the podium with her First Team honor in the 400 meters. The sophomore transfer took gold in the event with a 56.56. She set the new school record earlier in the season at the Georgia Tech Invitational with a 56.20.
The De Kalb, Mississippi native finishes the 2024 season sixth in the region and tops in the GSC.
Below are the All-Conference selections from West Alabama.
2024 All-GSC First Team Selections
Yakubu Balikis (100 meters, 200 meters)
Nesha Bourrage (400 meters)
