General | 7/16/2025 1:00:00 PM

OXFORD, Ohio -- The River States Conference is pleased to announce the selection of Indiana University Kokomo track and field athlete Sydney Duncan as the 2024-25 River States Conference Female Athlete of the Year. The 2025 RSC Female Field Athlete of the Year earns the award as the top female athlete in the entire conference, which includes nine RSC championship sports for women.

The Athlete of the Year is selected via a vote of conference athletic directors, and comes from a pool of all Player of the Year recipients. Duncan is the first athlete from Indiana University Kokomo, male or female, to win the RSC's top athletic honor since the Cougars joined the conference prior to the 2013-14 school year.

Duncan had a historic season throwing for the Cougars, racking up an impressive list of accolades. The Anderson, Indiana native won a pair of national championships, winning the shot put at both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. Her top throw at the outdoor nationals ranked third in NAIA history. At the national level, Duncan also finished second in the discus at the outdoor event, and competed in the outdoor hammer throw and indoor weight throw.

In addition to her accolades from the NAIA, Duncan also accumulated a number of awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. The sophomore was named the Great Lakes Regional Field Athlete of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor seasons, and was then honored as the National Field Athlete of the Year following the NAIA Championships in both seasons.

At a conference level, Duncan ended the season as a five-time River States Conference champion. The Cougar thrower won two titles (shot put, weight throw) at the indoor championships in Marietta, then added three gold medals (shot put, discus, hammer throw) at the outdoor championships in Rio Grande. In all five events, Duncan's top throw was a River States Conference Championship record. She was an eight-time River States Conference Field Athlete of the Week, winning the award five times during indoor season and thrice during outdoor season.

RSC/KIAC FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR (SINCE: 2009-10)
2009-10 -- Valerie Kamuf, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Soccer
2010-11 -- Brittany Bird, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2011-12 -- Ariel Nickell, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2012-13 -- Lauren Crump, IU East -- Volleyball
2013-14 -- Ariel Nickell, Alice Lloyd (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2014-15 -- Brianna Thomas, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Women's Basketball
2015-16 -- Julie Whitfill, Brescia (Ky.) -- Women's Basketball
2016-17 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2017-18 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2018-19 -- Anna Shields, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2019-20 -- Alyssa Campbell, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2020-21 -- Olivia Miller, Carlow (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2021-22 -- Alyssa Campbell, Point Park (Pa.) -- Track & Field/Cross Country
2022-23 -- Ella Skeens, Rio Grande (Ohio) -- Women's Basketball
2023-24 -- Autumn Oehlstrom, IU Southeast -- Softball
2024-25 -- Sydney Duncan, IU Kokomo -- Track & Field