2026 SUNYAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Yearly Awards Released
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces its 2026 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 – Grace Yarkosky, Plattsburgh
Yarkosky had a record-setting senior year breaking the school record in the 400-meter dash and then resetting that record three more times. She was the SUNYAC champion in the event and went on to finish second at the NCAA Division III championships. Yarkosky's mark in the NCAA final was the fourth fastest time in Division III history and is a new SUNYAC 400-meter dash record. Yarkosky was also part of the winning 1600-meter relay team at the SUNYAC championship meet.
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year – Reilly Quinn, Cortland
Quinn was a double SUNYAC champion in her senior season earning the league crown in the high jump and the long jump. Her performances were a career best 1.65-meters in the high jump and 5.60-meters in long jump. Quinn finished the year ranked 31st in Division III in the high jump and 41st in the long jump.
Women's Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year – Emma Pelkey, Delhi
In her first season with the Broncos, Pelkey won the conference title in the pentathlon finishing first with 3,069 points overall. Pelkey had two first place finishes in the shot put and high jump and a third place finish in the 800-meter run. In Delhi's program history, she sits at No. 2 all-time in the pentathlon. Pekley was also the top freshman in the pentathlon at the AARTFC championships.
Coaching Staff of the Year - Cortland
Head coach Steve Patrick is assisted by Chad Dunham, Peter McGinnis, Curtis Merrick, Maris Seabury, Mitch Makowski and Marissa Formes-Patrick. The staff led their team to it's second-straight and 20th overall SUNYAC team title with 21 All-Conference status athletes. Cortland's Melissa Innocent went on to finish 18th in the mile at the NCAA Division III indoor championships.
