MIAMI — FIU track and field standout-thrower Michaelle Valentin was named the 2025 Conference USA (CUSA) Field Athlete of Year on Friday, adding another accolade to her decorated FIU career. 

Valentin recently earned First Team All-American honors for the first time in her career, qualifying for the finals in the discus at the 2025 NCAA Championships. At nationals, Valentin's throw of 59.67 meters was the second-best in her flight and seventh-best in the opening round, qualifying her for the finals. She becomes the first-ever FIU track & field athlete in the Conference USA era to win an Athlete of the Year honor. 

The Apopka, Fla. native was previously named the 2025 CUSA Outdoor Field Performer of the Meet following gold and silver medals in the hammer and discus, respectively. She also took home the gold medal in the weight throw at the 2025 CUSA Indoor Championships, earning qualification to the 2025 Indoor NCAA Championships, becoming FIU's first qualifier since 2019. Valentin also racked up a total of six Field Athlete of the Week honors this season, three during the indoor slate and three during the outdoor season.

The Haitian-national caps her FIU tenure with three outdoor All-American awards in Discus, adding the First Team accolades in 2025 to Second Team recognition in both 2023 and 2024. She was also an Outdoor Second Team honoree in the Hammer in 2024 and Indoor Second Team member in the weight throw this season. 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUTrackXC on Twitter, @FIUTrackXC on Instagram and @FIUTrackXC on Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.