SAN ANTONIO – Parker Barrett of the University of the Incarnate Word track and field team was named the Southland Conference Men's Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year, announced the league office Tuesday. Five other male student-athletes and seven females were named to the academic all-conference team.
 
"Wow, what a way to end a banner year!" stated head coach Dr. Derek Riedel. "It's fitting that we end this special year with an academic award. It's the number one reason we are here doing what we are doing so this shows the world that these student-athletes value their education. It's of note that we had by far the most All-Academic nominations going into the voting process and to come out with the most men and second most women is a testament to how hard our student-athletes work in the classroom. It's no surprise - with the work we put in and the value we place on academics that these 13 men and women earned this award. I'm so proud to be a part of a smart, charismatic, committed and hard-working group of people. Congrats UIW Track & Field, let's do it again in 2023!"

Barrett is a criminal justice major who completed the year with a 3.74 GPA. He also made the Dean's List each semester from the fall of 2019 to the spring of 2022. Barrett registered 40.5 community service hours and is a member of the ROTC program at UIW. As a sophomore, Barrett led the Cardinals to their first outdoor championship with 21 points. He won the javelin with a throw of 61.44m, while also placing third in the high jump (1.98m) and fourth in the decathlon (5,443 points). Barrett, who hails from DeKalb, Texas, is a two-time selection to the Southland Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll.
 
Matthew Hernandez of the men's team received his third all-academic honor, followed by Cameron Crowe, Tristan Garren, Devante Mount and Garrett Stokes. Madi Henry and Alisa Novosad led the women's team with their third all-academic honor, followed by Klaire Bentley, Alia Henderson, Maddie Marrone, Gabrielle Thomas and Sullivan Wilke.
 
To view full SLC Academic All-Conference list click here.