The accolades keep rolling in for Sanaria Butler.
The school record holder earned a spot in the NCAA championships and for doing so, she was named co-Louisiana Sports Writers Association Freshman of the Year, the organization announced Friday.
Butler and LSU’s Brianna Lyston each tallied five votes to tie the voting.
Student-athletes reach the All-Louisiana team by posting a top-three mark in their respective events. The superlative awards were voted on by the sports information directors of the Louisiana institutions.
Butler leads a total of nine on the All-Louisiana team.
The native of Port Arthur, Texas, earned a spot on the team in the 400-meter dash, recording the second-best time in the state with a school-record 52.19, which she broke at Baylor, one week after breaking the same record.
Butler also was a member of the 4×400 women’s relay team that earned a spot on the team, along with Vanessa Balde, Sian Weller and Maygan Shaw. The school record of 3:35.77, set during the Southland Conference Championships, was the second-best performance among Louisiana schools during the season.
She earned one vote for the All-Louisiana Women’s Track Athlete of the Year.
The women’s 4×400 relay team was one of the three relay squads to make an All-Louisiana spot. Balde and Shaw—along with Victoria Byrd and Lynell Washington—were on the 4×100 team that also finished second in Louisiana this season with a time of 44.91.
Joining Butler on the team in the 400 is Shaw, whose time of 52.73 placed third in the state this season.
The final of the three relay teams to make the All-Louisiana team is the men’s 4×100. The quartet of Austin Simoneaux, Destine-Unique Scott, Cyrus Jacobs and Simon Wulff finished third in the state in the event with a time of 39.51, which they ran at the Battle on the Bayou in March.
In the field events, Djimon Gumbs is the only NSU athlete to be on the team in two different individual events, doing so in the discus and shot put.
Gumbs posted the top distance in the discus in the state in 2023, tossing a 205-11 at the Cowboy Relays to open the outdoor season, which earned him a spot on the All-Louisiana Team.
If that wasn’t enough, the junior finished second in the shot put with a throw of 63-1.5, trailing only LSU’s John Meyer on the team.
Like Butler, the duo of freshmen on the men’s side have been making noise as well, as both Randy Kelly (high jump) and Adam Lindo (long jump) reached the all-Louisiana teams.
Kelly, a native of Blythewood, South Carolina, posted a third-place finish in the high jump by clearing 6-11.5, which he cleared at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational and matched at the SLC Outdoor Championships.
Southeastern Louisiana’s Slavko Stevic and UL Monroe’s Ali Eren Unlu tied for the top spot, clearing 7-3.25.
In the long jump, Lindo also finished with the third-best jump in the state this season, posting a 25-0 at the West Texas Last Chance Meet, which earned him a spot at the NCAA East Regionals.
Gold medalist in the pole vault Madison Brown earned a spot on the All-Louisiana Team by clearing 12-7.5, which won her the gold at the SLC Outdoor Championships.
LSU took home seven of the 10 superlative awards solo and tied two others, including the women’s co-Freshman of the Year with Butler.
The lone superlative award that LSU failed to win was the women’s coach of the year, which went to Xavier Yhann Plummer, who took it by a single vote over Mike Heimerman and LSU’s Dennis Shaver.
Complete honors list for the LSWA All-Louisiana Track and Field Team:
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – GODSON OGHENEBRUME, LSU
Voting – Oghenebrume 10, Cody Branch (Dillard) 1, Rodney Heath Jr (LA Tech) 1
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – TZURIEL PEDIGO, LSU
Voting – Pedigo 8, Seth Alexander (Xavier) 2, Jeremy Nelson (Louisiana) 1, Ali Eren Unlu (ULM) 1
MEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR – MATTHEW SOPHIA, LSU
Voting – Sophia 5, Coulaj Eans (Xavier) 3, Jeremy Nelson (Louisiana) 3, Jamie Sancho (LA Tech) 1
MEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR – BRANDON HICKLIN, LSU
Voting – Hicklin 11, Jayden Sloan (UNO) 1
MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR – DENNIS SHAVER, LSU
Voting – Shaver 8, Nile Legania (Dillard) 3, Lon Badeaux (Louisiana) 1
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – MICHAELA ROSE, LSU
Voting – Rose 10, Sanaria Butler (Northwestern State) 1, Kevell Byrd (Dillard) 1
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (TIE) – KRISTEN O’HANDLEY, TULANE; MORGAN SMALLS, LSU
Voting – O’Handley 5, Smalls 5, Eunice Ilunga Mbuyi (ULM) 2
WOMEN’S FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (TIE) – SANARIA BUTLER, NORTHWESTERN STATE; BRIANNA LYSTON, LSU
Voting – Butler 5, Lyston 5, Maria Bienvenu (Louisiana) 2
WOMEN’S NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR –SHANI’A BELLAMY, LSU
Voting – Bellamy 7, Jacqueline Pokuaah (Louisiana) 3, Rebecca DeKay (UNO) 1, Claudine Raud-Gumiel (ULM) 1
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR –YHANN PLUMMER, XAVIER
Voting – Plummer 4, Mike Heimerman (Northwestern State) 3, Dennis Shaver (LSU) 3, Nile Legania (Dillard) 1, Adrian Myers (Tulane 1)
The complete list of Best Times for the 2023 outdoor track season by Louisiana schools:
ALL-LOUISIANA TRACK AND FIELD BEST TIMES
100 Meters (Men)
Godson Oghenebrume, LSU – June 9, 2023 – 9.90
Da’Marcus Fleming, LSU – June 9, 2023 – 9.97
Brandon Hicklin, LSU – June 7, 2023 – 10.12
Rodney Heath Jr., Louisiana Tech – May 14, 2023 – 10.12
100 Meters (Women)
Favour Ofili, LSU – May 11, 2023 — 11.17
Thelma Davies, LSU – March 29, 2023 – 11.19
Tionna Brown, LSU – March 17, 2023 – 11.33
200 Meters (Men)
Da’Marcus Fleming, LSU – April 22, 2023 – 20.22
Dorian Camel, LSU – May 26, 2023 – 20.23
Jamie Sancho, Louisiana Tech – April 28, 2023 – 20.64
200 Meters (Women)
Favor Ofili, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 22.58
Thelma Davies, LSU – April 14, 2023 – 22.64
Brianna Lyston, LSU – May 25, 2023 – 22.75
400 Meters (Men)
Eugene Omalla, Southeastern – May 4, 2023 – 46.06
Ashton Hicks, LSU – April 14, 2023 – 46.24
Sean Burrell, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 46.38
400 Meters (Women)
Ella Onojuvwevwo, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 51.85
Sanaria Butler, Northwestern State – April 21, 2023 – 52.19
Maygan Shaw, Northwestern State – April 21, 2023 – 52.73
800 Meters (Men)
Alex Selles, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 1:47.68
Javon-Taye Williams, Southeastern – April 8, 2023 — 1:48.64
Nicholas Scott, Southern – April 22, 2023 – 1:48.84
800 Meters (Women)
Michaela Rose, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 1:59.08
Cindy Bourdier, LSU – May 25, 2023 – 2:03.09
Lorena Rangel Batres, LSU – April 8, 2023 – 2:03.53
1500 Meters (Men)
David Bove, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 3:39.42
Alex Selles, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 3:42.82
Aaron Gilliam, Tulane – May 14, 2023 — 3:45.27
1500 Meters (Women)
Lorena Rangel Batres, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 4:11.61
Michaela Rose, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 4:11.98
Cindy Bourdier, LSU – April 13, 2023 – 4:20.90
5000 Meters (Men)
Bradley Makuvire, Tulane – March 23, 2023 – 13:57.67
Aaron Gilliam, Tulane – March 23, 2023 – 14:27.84
Louden Boudreaux, Louisiana – April 18, 2023 – 14:31.42
5000 Meters (Women)
Rebecca DeKay, UNO – April 14, 2023 – 16:58.31
Sorcha Moloney, McNeese – April 22, 2023 – 17:09.34
Haley Salsbury, Louisiana – April 15, 2023 – 17:19.29
10000 Meters (Men)
Bradley Makuvire, Tulane – April 13, 2023 – 28:50.61
Gilbert Kimutai, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 30:44.53
Jacob Kipkogei, McNeese – March 29, 2023 — 31:07.44
10000 Meters (Women)
Sophie Daigle, Louisiana – April 13, 2023 – 34:19.08
Rebecca Dekay, UNO – May 4, 2023 – 37:31.24
Sorcha Moloney, McNeese – May 4, 2023 — 37:44.95
100 Meter Hurdles (Women)
Alia Armstrong, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 12.31
Leah Phillips, LSU – May 27, 2023 – 12.86
Shani’a Bellamy, LSU – May 25, 2023 – 12.98
110 Meter Hurdles (Men)
Matthew Sophia, LSU – May 24, 2023 – 13.53
Jorim Bangue, UNO – May 4, 2023 – 13.87
Loubert Dagrin, Louisiana – April 28, 2023 – 13.89
Jordan Thompson, Southern – May 6, 2023 – 13.89
400 Hurdles (Men)
Sean Burrell, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 49.32
Omri Shiff, Southeastern – March 25, 2023 – 50.81
Javed Jones, Louisiana – May 11, 2023 – 50.96
400 Hurdles (Women)
Shani’a Bellamy, LSU – June 10, 2023 – 55.58
Leah Phillips, LSU – April 14, 2023 – 56.56
Garriel White, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 58.01
3000 Steeplechase (Men)
Kolyn Saltzman, UNO – April 13, 2023 – 9:01.55
Arturs Lapins, Tulane – April 13, 2023 – 9:02.64
Rojs Puks, ULM – April 22, 2023 – 9:38.83
3000 Steeplechase (Women)
MacKenzie Callahan, Tulane – April 26, 2023 – 10:24.50
Ariana Jimenez, UNO – April 13, 2023 – 10:31.11
Ella Chesnut, LSU – March 29, 2023 – 10:34.02
4×100 Relay (Men)
LSU (Hicklin, Camel, Fleming, Oghenebrume) – May 11, 2023 – 37.90
Louisiana (Jones, Crockett, Appiah, Booth) – June 7, 2023 – 39.38
Northwestern State (SImoneaux, Scott, Jacobs, Wulff) – March 25, 2023 – 39.51
4×100 Relay (Women)
LSU (Armstrong, Ofili, Lyston, Davies) – May 11, 2023 – 42.92
Northwestern State (Byrd, Washington, Balde, Shaw) – March 25, 2023 – 44.91
Louisiana (London, Bridgen, Robinson, Spates) – April 22, 2023 – 45.13
4×400 Relay (Men)
LSU (Camel, Burrell, McKay, Hicks) – May 11, 2023 – 3:03.16
Southeastern (Omalla, Omalla, Shiff, Jackson) – May 4, 2023 – 3:06.48
Louisiana (Hoyte-Small, Scott, Jones, Fergusson) – May 11, 2023 – 3:08.32
4×400 Relay (Women)
LSU (Onojuvwevweo, Rose, Phillips, Douglas) – May 27, 2023 – 3:31.51
Northwestern State (Weller, Shaw, Balde, Butler) – May 4, 2023 – 3:35.77
Louisiana (Spates, Bridgen, Noel, Johnson) – March 31, 2023 – 3:45.63
High Jump (Men)
Ali Eren Unlu, ULM – May 11, 2023 – 7.3.75
Slavko Stevic, Southeastern – April 15, 2023 – 7-3.25
Randy Kelly, Northwestern State – May 4, 2023 – 6-11.50
High Jump (Women)
Morgan Smalls, LSU – April 8, 2023 – 6-1.25
Katrine Olsen, Southeastern – May 4, 2023 – 5-9.75
Taylor Davis, Louisiana – April 15, 2023 – 5-9.25
Pole Vault (Men)
Beau Domingue, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 17-4.50
Nick Russell, Louisiana – April 22, 2023 – 16-7.25
Kameron Aime, LSU – March 17, 2023 – 16-6.75
Pole Vault (Women)
Emery Prentice, LSU – April 22, 2023 – 13-1
Jordan Brown, Louisiana – April 28, 2023 – 12-8.75
Madison Brown, Northwestern State – May 4, 2023 – 12.750
Long Jump (Men)
Brandon Hicklin, LSU – March 29, 2023 – 26-1
Ji’eem Bullock, LSU – April 14, 2023 – 25-2
Adam Lindo, Northwestern State – May 12, 2023 – 25-0
Long Jump (Women)
Morgan Smalls, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 21-1.50
Olaia Becerril Alvarez, ULM – March 30, 2023 – 20-9
Jacqueline Pokuaah, Louisiana – April 15, 2023 – 20-6.5
Triple Jump (Men)
Apalos Edwards, LSU – April 22, 2023 – 53-5
Jeremy Nelson, Louisiana – March 25, 2023 – 51-4.25
Seth Alexander, Xavier – May 26, 2023 – 50-6
Triple Jump (Women)
Eunice Illunga Mbuyi, ULM – March 29, 2023 – 44-7.50
Jacqueline Pokuaah, Louisiana – May 11, 2023 – 42-9.75
Taylor Davis, Louisiana – May 27, 2023 – 41-11.25
Shot Put (Men)
John Meyer, LSU – May 11, 2023 – 67-3.25
Djimon Gumbs, Northwestern State – March 11, 2023 – 63-1.50
Marcus Francis, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 58-1.0
Shot Put (Women)
Maren Butler, Tulane – May 12, 2023 – 51-4.25
Kristian Jackson, Southeastern – March 25, 2023 – 50-7.25
Ashari Jones, McNeese – McNeese – March 23, 2023 – 47-11.25
Discus (Men)
Djimon Gumbs, Northwestern State – March 11, 2023 – 205-11
Claudio Romero, LSU – March 25, 2023 – 201-1
Jaden James – LSU – March 17, 2023 – 184-4
Discus (Women)
Kristian Jackson, Southeastern – April 22, 2023 – 178-5
Maren Butler, Tulane – April 28, 2023 – 156-2
Reese Grossie, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 155-5
Hammer (Men)
Terrell Webb, Southeastern – April 8, 2023 – 210-3
Jonathan Witte, LSU – April 22, 2023 – 197-0
Tyler Challis, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 187-2
Hammer (Women)
Mariah Lee, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 196-8
Chloe Hernandez, McNeese – April 15, 2023 – 177-3
Sydney Lake, ULM – April 15, 2023 – 168-9
Javelin (Men)
Tzuriel Pedigo, LSU – June 9, 2023 – 261-9
Callan Saldutto, ULM – May 11, 2023 – 241-8
Jackson Rimes, LSU – March 17, 2023 – 226-11
Javelin (Women)
Marin Bienvenu, Louisiana – May 25, 2023 – 169-11
Mann Barras, Louisiana – March 29, 2023 – 156-1
Emma Bacilla, Louisiana – April 28, 2023 – 153-6
Heptathlon (Women)
Kristen O’Handley, Tulane – April 20, 2023 – 5802
Margot Temines, Tulane – May 12, 2023 – 5515
Claudine Raud-Gumiel, ULM – May 11, 2023 – 5265
Decathlon (Men)
Bailey Couch, ULM – May 11, 2023 — 6453
Luke Benoit, Louisiana – May 11, 2023 — 6223
Logan Broussard, McNeese – May 4, 2023 – 6062
