2025 SUNYAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Top Awards Announced
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC releases its 2025 Women's Indoor Track and Field Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year. These awards are nominated and voted on by the 12 conference coaches.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year – Natalia Sawyer, Buffalo State
Sawyer three-peats as the SUNYAC Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year. She was the 2025 SUNYAC champion in the 400-meter run and went on to finish fifth in the event at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field tournament. Sawyer was also the league champion in the 60-meter hurdles and the 200-meter run. She was named the 2025 Women's Most Valuable Performer of the Meet with the most overall points (30). This season, she broke the Buffalo State school record in the 800-meter with a time of 2:16.00. She also set the meet record in the 400-meter at the SUNYAC's and the AARTFC Regional meet.
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year – Cara Pellechia, Fredonia
Pellechia won her third straight SUNYAC title in the pole vault this season. With a height of 3.60 meters at the league championship meet she was ranked tied for 36th in Division III. Pellechia also competed in the 60-meter dash and the 200-meter run. She finished 9th in the 200 and 10th in the 60-meter at the 2025 conference championship meet.
Women's Indoor Track and Field Rookie of the Year – Jaiden Schrag, Oneonta
Schrag was the runner up in 60-meter hurdles at the 2025 SUNYAC indoor track and field championships. She also took third in the long jump and triple jump and was a member of the 4x400 team that placed third. Schrag also finished sixth in the 400-meter final. With the most points among rookies at the league championship meet, Schrag was named the SUNYAC Women's Indoor Track and Field Rookie of the Meet. She was 10th in 60-meter hurdles at the AARTFC meet and also qualified in the long jump and the 4x400 relay.
Women's Indoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year – Cortland
Steve Patrick is the head coach of the Cortland women's track and field team and he is assisted by Chad Dunham, Peter McGinnis, Curtis Merrick, Maris Seabury, Mitch Makowski and Marissa Formes-Patrick. The staff led their team to the program's 19th overall women's indoor track and field conference crown and first since 2014. Cortland had 20 student-athletes named to the SUNYAC All-Conference teams after finishing in the top three at the 2025 league championship meet. Autumn Pittman advanced to the NCAA Division III tournament where she finished 20th in the 60-meter dash.
