The 2025-26 Big 12 Athlete of the Year nominees will be featured in alphabetical order by school starting Monday, July 13, through Wednesday, July 22, at 11 a.m. CT and 2 p.m. CT.
Each institution nominated one male and one female athlete of any classification who competed for their institution during the 2025-26 school year. Student-athletes were required to be in good academic standing and must have participated in a league-sponsored sport.
The 16 full-member institutions that competed during the 2025-26 academic year are eligible.
The winners will be announced Thursday, July 23. Stay tuned to Big12Sports.com and the league’s social media platforms to see the remaining candidates.
This afternoon’s featured candidates are Oklahoma State's Billah Jepkirui and Preston Stout.
Oklahoma State Female Athlete of the Year Candidate
Billah Jepkirui, Cross Country and Track and Field
Sr., Kapsabet, Kenya
Accomplishments
- Career included four Big 12 titles, an NCAA runner-up finish, seven All-America honors and multiple Big 12 and Midwest Region Athlete of the Year recognitions.
- Earned Most Outstanding Performer honors at the 2026 Drake Relays after leading Oklahoma State to victories in the 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay, including the second-fastest 4x800 time in NCAA history.
- Her school record time of 4:22.92 in the mile is the fourth-fastest time in NCAA history.
- Ran the NCAA's fastest 1,500-meter time of the 2026 season, the fifth-fastest in collegiate history, and earned USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors.
Oklahoma State Male Athlete of the Year Candidate
Preston Stout, Men’s Golf
Jr., Richardson, Texas
Accomplishments
- Ranked as the world's top amateur golfer after capturing the 2026 NCAA individual title.
- Earned back-to-back First Team All-America honors in 2025 and 2026.
- Became the first golfer to win three consecutive Big 12 Championships (2024-26).
- A two-time GCAA All-America Scholar who helped lead Oklahoma State to the 2025 NCAA team championship while earning First Team All-American honors as a sophomore.
The full list of nominees for each school can be found below.
2025-26 Big 12 Athletes of the Year Nominees
Arizona - Sydney Stewart and Jay Friend
Arizona State - Kenzie Brown and Jonny Kulow
Baylor - Tyler Isgrig and Devin Badenhorst
BYU - Jane Hedengren and AJ Dybantsa
UCF - Sierra Humphreys and Themus Fulks
Cincinnati - Juliette Laracuente-Huebner and Quinton Coats
Colorado - Maddie Shoup and Hunter Swanson
Houston - Michelle McLeod and Kingston Flemings
Iowa State - Mercyline Kirwa and Joshua Jefferson
Kansas - Shiyun Lai and Tyson LeBlanc
K-State - Shaylee Myers and Tah Chikomba
Oklahoma State - Billah Jepkirui and Preston Stout