PEORIA, Ill. – Sophomore Jamie Phillips and senior Kaitlyn Sheppard, both of Bradley Cross Country and Track & Field, have been named as the male and female winners of the Varsity Club Most Outstanding Athlete award, announced Monday.

Phillips was an NCAA Second Team All-American after placing 10th in the Men's 800m Semifinal at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, narrowly missing qualification for the 800m Final. He became Bradley's second First or Second Team All-American in as many seasons. Phillips' season also saw him run the nation's 12th-fastest 800m time, as he lowered Bradley's 800m program record to a staggering 1:45.61 in May. Additionally, Phillips was named Most Outstanding Men's Track Athlete at the MVC Indoor Championships and MVC Outdoor Championships after earning his third and fourth 800m conference titles of his career. Phillips also earned five MVC Track Athlete of the Week awards during the season.

Sheppard's cross country season saw her win three races, headlined by taking first place at the Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championships in Evansville. She was the first Brave to win the conference championship race since 2022 and only the fourth since the turn of the century. The performance earned her MVC Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year. Her excellent season carried onto the track, as she earned two conference titles at the MVC Indoor Championships: the Mile and the Distance Medley Relay. She also placed third in the 3000m Final, totaling three All-MVC awards. In total, Sheppard accrued five MVC Runner of the Week/Track Athlete of the Week honors across the cross country and track & field seasons.

Phillips is the second cross country and track & field athlete to earn the Varsity Club Most Outstanding Male Athlete award in as many seasons and the fifth to do so since 2019. He was selected for the award over Alex Huibregtse (men's basketball), Landon Lowe (baseball), Jayde Rosslee (cross country/track & field) and Carter Stevenson (men's golf).

Sheppard is the first cross country and track & field athlete to earn Varsity Club Most Outstanding Female Athlete since 2024 and is the fourth athlete to earn the honor since 2023 (two female athletes earned MOA that season). She was selected for the award over Maria Drapp (volleyball), Caroline McConnell (women's golf), Kierston McCoy (softball), Kaylen Nelson (women's basketball) and Ruby Tseng (tennis).

This marks the second time that cross country and track & field athletes have earned both the male and female Most Outstanding Athlete awards, with the first instance occurring in 2024.