NEW ORLEANS – Missouri Southern's Cedric Pearson and Brian Allen picked up National honors for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced Thursday.
 
Pearson was named the National Men's Field Athlete of the Year for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season while Allen was selected the National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
 
 
Cedric Pearson | National Men's Field Athlete of the Year
 
Cedric Pearson was named the National Men's Field Athlete of the Year for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season. Pearson, who hails from Bentonville, Arkansas, won the shot put at the NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, throwing 18.85m (61-10.25). He also finished fifth in the discus in Emporia, Kansas, contributing 14 points as he helped the Lions to a third-place National team finish. Earlier in the season, Pearson won the shot put and finished third in the discus at the MIAA Championships.
 
Pearson was also named MIAA Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week on April 7 and earned All-MIAA honors in the shot put and discus as well as USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the shot put and discus throw, capping a season defined by conference success, national impact, and consistent high-level performances.
 
He was also named the Central Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year on Monday, June 1.
 
Brian Allen | National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year 
 
Brian Allen was named the National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season. Allen coached the Lions' throwers to account for 37 of Missouri Southern's 45 points in finishing third at the 2026 NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, earning seven All-America awards including a title in the shot put. His student-athletes also contributed 73 points at the MIAA Outdoor Championships for second at the conference meet.
 
He was also named the Central Region Men's & Women's Assistant Coach of the Year on Monday, June 1.
 
 
Missouri Southern Athletics Hall of Famer Kimi (Shank) Reed was inducted into the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, on Monday, June 1, 2026.