BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Texas A&M athletics department presented the 2023 Legacy Awards, formerly the Building Champions Awards, Monday night at the Ford Hall of Champions. The Legacy Awards recognizes Texas A&M student-athlete's accomplishments for various academic, service, leadership and athletic endeavors from March 2022 to March 2023.
Women's track & field and cross country Julia Abell highlighted the night for the team, winning the Distinguished Letterman's Award, the highest honor given to a student-athlete in their tenure at Texas A&M.
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The Distinguished Letterman's Award
The Distinguished Letterman's Award is considered one of the highest bestowed upon a student-athlete in their tenure at Texas A&M. A student- athlete who displays extraordinary talent and honor in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service.
Winner: Julia Abell (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country)
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Abell received her bachelor's in agriculture communications and journalism and a Master of Science in Business and is now working on a certificate in Hospitality Management. She was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team and the SEC Spring Honor Roll in 2022. She currently serves as the President of SAAC and was on the executive board in 2021-22. Other leadership roles she has served in is on the 12th Man Foundation Collegiate Council, "The 12" the track & field leadership group, Freshman Aggies Spreading Tradition (FAST), FCA and assistant coordinator for student-athlete experience in the athletic department. Athletically, Abell broke a 15-year-old school record in the steeplechase last spring. She holds three top-12 all-time records including No. 10 in the indoor 5,000 meters and No. 12 in the indoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.
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Athlete of the Year
This award is presented to the top male and female student-athletes based upon athletic excellence over the past year.
Winner: Lamara Distin (Women's Track & Field)
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Since March 27, 2022, Distin has won 11 of 12 competitions, including two NCAA high jump titles and two SEC high jump titles. During the 2022 outdoor season, she recorded eight of the top nine performances in school history, including the school record, Jamaican record and equaled the No. 4 performance in collegiate history (6-5.5/1.97m). During the 2023 indoor season, Distin registered the top three marks in school history along the way to an undefeated season. Her school record is also a Jamaican record and equals the No. 3 performance in collegiate history (6- 5.5/1.97m). During the summer, Distin finished ninth at the World Athletics Championships while claiming the victory at the Commonwealth Championships.
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12th Man of the Year Award
This award honors a walk-on student-athlete who embodies the spirit of the 12th man on our teams and in our athletics department.
Winners: Grace Plain (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country)
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Plain is a fifth-year senior from McKinney, Texas. She ranks No. 7 all-time at Texas A&M in the 5,000 meters (indoors), No. 10 all-time in the 3000 meters (indoors) and No. 12 all-time in the 10,000 meters (outdoors). Plain has set personal best times in every one of her races indoors and outdoors in the past 12 months, including in the mile, 3K and 5K indoors in 2023. She just missed scoring finishing ninth in the SEC Outdoor Championship Meet in the 10K last year. She has been a key scorer on the cross country team the past few seasons and has been on the SEC Academic Honor Roll every semester since Fall 2019. Plain is on the SAAC Executive Committee as VP of Diversity & Inclusion. She is currently the VP of Diversity and Inclusion for SAAC and has been a team representative at least the past two years and has been involved in talks with President Banks' team on diversity initiatives. Upon graduation, she plans on attending the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. She hopes to serve in the Dental Corps in the United States Air Force.
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All-Aggie Academic Team
This award recognizes the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA on each respective team.
Winners: Joseph Benn (Men's Track & Field and Cross Country), Katelyn Buckley (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country), Hailee Cooper (Women's Golf), Anže Ferš Eržen (Men's Swimming & Diving), Allison Fields (Volleyball), Lauren Geczik (Soccer), Ellie Gerbrandt (Equestrian), Kayal Gownder (Women's Tennis), McKinzie Green (Women's Basketball), William Paysse (Men's Golf), Ryan Prager (Baseball), Chloe Stepanek (Women's Swimming & Diving), Keith Steptoe (Football), Kenner Taylor (Men's Tennis), Wade Taylor IV (Men's Basketball), Grace Uribe (Softball)
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To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.
Women's track & field and cross country Julia Abell highlighted the night for the team, winning the Distinguished Letterman's Award, the highest honor given to a student-athlete in their tenure at Texas A&M.
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The Distinguished Letterman's Award
The Distinguished Letterman's Award is considered one of the highest bestowed upon a student-athlete in their tenure at Texas A&M. A student- athlete who displays extraordinary talent and honor in the areas of athletics, scholarship, leadership and service.
Winner: Julia Abell (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country)
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Abell received her bachelor's in agriculture communications and journalism and a Master of Science in Business and is now working on a certificate in Hospitality Management. She was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team and the SEC Spring Honor Roll in 2022. She currently serves as the President of SAAC and was on the executive board in 2021-22. Other leadership roles she has served in is on the 12th Man Foundation Collegiate Council, "The 12" the track & field leadership group, Freshman Aggies Spreading Tradition (FAST), FCA and assistant coordinator for student-athlete experience in the athletic department. Athletically, Abell broke a 15-year-old school record in the steeplechase last spring. She holds three top-12 all-time records including No. 10 in the indoor 5,000 meters and No. 12 in the indoor 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.
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Athlete of the Year
This award is presented to the top male and female student-athletes based upon athletic excellence over the past year.
Winner: Lamara Distin (Women's Track & Field)
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Since March 27, 2022, Distin has won 11 of 12 competitions, including two NCAA high jump titles and two SEC high jump titles. During the 2022 outdoor season, she recorded eight of the top nine performances in school history, including the school record, Jamaican record and equaled the No. 4 performance in collegiate history (6-5.5/1.97m). During the 2023 indoor season, Distin registered the top three marks in school history along the way to an undefeated season. Her school record is also a Jamaican record and equals the No. 3 performance in collegiate history (6- 5.5/1.97m). During the summer, Distin finished ninth at the World Athletics Championships while claiming the victory at the Commonwealth Championships.
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12th Man of the Year Award
This award honors a walk-on student-athlete who embodies the spirit of the 12th man on our teams and in our athletics department.
Winners: Grace Plain (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country)
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Plain is a fifth-year senior from McKinney, Texas. She ranks No. 7 all-time at Texas A&M in the 5,000 meters (indoors), No. 10 all-time in the 3000 meters (indoors) and No. 12 all-time in the 10,000 meters (outdoors). Plain has set personal best times in every one of her races indoors and outdoors in the past 12 months, including in the mile, 3K and 5K indoors in 2023. She just missed scoring finishing ninth in the SEC Outdoor Championship Meet in the 10K last year. She has been a key scorer on the cross country team the past few seasons and has been on the SEC Academic Honor Roll every semester since Fall 2019. Plain is on the SAAC Executive Committee as VP of Diversity & Inclusion. She is currently the VP of Diversity and Inclusion for SAAC and has been a team representative at least the past two years and has been involved in talks with President Banks' team on diversity initiatives. Upon graduation, she plans on attending the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. She hopes to serve in the Dental Corps in the United States Air Force.
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All-Aggie Academic Team
This award recognizes the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA on each respective team.
Winners: Joseph Benn (Men's Track & Field and Cross Country), Katelyn Buckley (Women's Track & Field and Cross Country), Hailee Cooper (Women's Golf), Anže Ferš Eržen (Men's Swimming & Diving), Allison Fields (Volleyball), Lauren Geczik (Soccer), Ellie Gerbrandt (Equestrian), Kayal Gownder (Women's Tennis), McKinzie Green (Women's Basketball), William Paysse (Men's Golf), Ryan Prager (Baseball), Chloe Stepanek (Women's Swimming & Diving), Keith Steptoe (Football), Kenner Taylor (Men's Tennis), Wade Taylor IV (Men's Basketball), Grace Uribe (Softball)
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To learn more about Texas A&M Track & Field/Cross Country, log on to 12thMan.com and follow @aggietfxc.