Phemelo Matlhabe was named the National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field season. Matlhabe, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, scored 23.5 points at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama. He won the 100 meters in 10.08 and 200 meters in 20.48, both times registering as fastest of the year in the NAIA. He also ran legs on the Running Eagles’ victorious 4×100 (40.21) and fifth-place 4×400 (3:14.10) relay teams as Life won its first men’s team title in the meet since 2000. During the regular season, Matlhabe amassed 22 points at the Mid-South Conference Championships with a sweep of the short sprints and a carry on the runner-up 4×100 relay.