NEW ORLEANS, La. - IU Kokomo sophomore thrower Sydney Duncan, fresh off winning the 2025 NAIA Outdoor National Championship in Shot Put, has added yet another postseason award to her collection. The awards were announced Thursday by the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Duncan, a product of Frankton High School, has been named the USTFCCCA NAIA National Women's Field Athlete of the Year after wrapping up a dominant sophomore campaign at last week's NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.

Sydney opened the week with a ninth-place finish in Hammer Throw, missing out on an All-American spot by one place. She then won her second career National Championship in Shot Put in dominant fashion, before finishing six centimeters short of a National Championship in Discus, settling for a National Runner-Up finish.

Duncan's winning Shot Put throw of 16.79 meters places her #3 all-time in NAIA history, as she also set lifetime bests in Hammer Throw (52.62 meters) and Discus (49.76 meters).

She is now a four-time NAIA All-American in Shot Put, and also earned All-American honors in Discus. Duncan will enter the 2025-2026 seasons as a favorite to bring home titles in Shot Put once again, while also entering the year highly ranked in other throwing events. 

Sydney also swept all three titles at the 2025 RSC Outdoor Championships, also finishing the year undefeated in Shot Put.

In order to view the USTFCCCA release in its entirety, click HERE.

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.