New Orleans, La. - The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the indoor track & field regional awards following the completion of the 2024 Indoor Track & Field season. Peyton Barton was named the Central Region Field Athlete of the Year thanks to his record-breaking and national champion performances in the weight throw this year. 

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA DII Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered.

During the 2023-24 indoor track & field season, Peyton Barton threw at six meets prior to the MIAA Championships, claiming MIAA Field Athlete of the Week honors each time. In addition to those weekly honors, Barton was named the USTFCCCA Field Athlete of the Week twice, an honor that only two Southern men earned prior to Barton's honors. He set the MSSU record in the weight throw last season at 22.05m, but shattered that number several times this season. The current record now stands at 23.13m, Barton's mark that earned him MIAA Champion honors. To round out the year, Barton was the national champion in the weight throw, going back-to-back as he won the event last season as well. 

Barton and the Missouri Southern track & field teams will kick off the outdoor season on March 22-23, traveling to Rolla, Missouri to compete in the Miner Invitational, hosted by Missouri S&T.