The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Alfred & Bizimana named Big 12 Track and Field Scholar Athletes of the Year
08.17.2023 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Longhorns sweep Big 12 Scholar Athlete Awards.
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas sprinters Julien Alfred and Yusuf Bizimana were named the Big 12 Conference Scholar Athletes of the Year for Track and Field, the league announced on Tuesday. Alfred is the first female track and field athlete to win the award, while Bizimana becomes the third male to earn the yearly accolade.
Bizimana held a 3.23 GPA while majoring in advertising and is a two-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree. Alfred posted a 3.34 GPA as a graduate student majoring in youth and community studies and was named the USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete of the Year.
It was a magical season for the pair of Longhorns during the 2022-23 track and field season, winning five NCAA individual titles between the two.
Alfred's list of accolades are second to none. The St. Lucia native added five NCAA titles to her name in her final season representing Texas, winning the indoor sprints double (60-meter/200-meter) and the outdoor sprints double (100-meter/200-meter), while also helping UT defend its 4x100-meter relay title.
Alfred was named the Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA Indoor and Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, a finalist for The Bowerman, the Big 12 indoor and outdoor performer of the Year and helped the Longhorns win its fifth NCAA Outdoor Championship title at home. Alfred walked away from the season with the NCAA record in the 60m, the indoor 200m and the fastest all-conditions time in both the 100m and 200m, while helping break the 4x100 relay record three times in one year.
Bizimana had one of the best breakout seasons for the Longhorns in history. He began the indoor season winning the Big 12 Indoor 600-yard title with the third-fastest time in Texas history. He later capped the indoor season with an NCAA 800m national title with a program record time of 1:46.02 and became just the second Longhorn to ever win the 800m – indoor or outdoor. His efforts saw Bizimana named the USTFCCCA South Central Regional Athlete of the Year.
He capped off his junior campaign winning his third-straight Big 12 800m outdoor title in Norman, Okla. He finished as the 2023 NCAA runner-up in the 800m to finish the year as a First Team All-American for the fifth time in his career.
Big 12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year nominees must be a junior or senior (athletic and academic standing) and have a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher, participate in at least 20 percent of the team's scheduled contests, and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution.
Players Mentioned
