NEW ORLEANS, LA - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its All-Region honorees for the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field season on Wednesday, recognizing the top performers from across the country. Athletes earned All-Region distinction by ranking among the top eight individuals in their respective events, or, in the case of group events, saw each participating athlete get recognized if the team's top mark was in the top eight. Several Pioneers were recognized for their outstanding performances throughout the indoor campaign, achieving All-Region distinction among their peers in the Division III Niagara Region.
Women
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) | Shot Put- Regional Ranking: #1 - Sophomore thrower
Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) led the region in the women's shot put this season, earning the No. 1 regional ranking after recording a personal-best throw of 14.19 meters at the Pioneer Fast Trax Invite. Her mark not only secured first place in the meet but also ranked among the top throws in NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field. Cary also finished 10th in the women's shot put at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships with a top mark of 13.29 meters to earn Second Team All-American honors. The sophomore was one of just two underclassmen to qualify for the national championship field. Throughout the season, Cary also earned two Pioneer Athlete of the Week nominations while solidifying her place among the top throwers in the country.
Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) | 400m – Regional Ranking: #8 - Junior
Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills) earned a No. 8 regional ranking in the 400 meters after recording a time of 58.14 at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 7, 2026. This is McClendon's second All-Region nomination this season as she was also a key part of the 4x400m Relay for the Pioneers.
Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota) | 60m Hurdles / 60m / 200m – Regional Ranking: #3/ #3/ #6 - Graduate student
Laura Suppa (Canastota, NY/Canastota) earned a No. 3 regional ranking in the 60-meter hurdles after recording a program-record time of 8.64 at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 6, 2026. The time ranked among the top performances in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field and helped her qualify for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. At the national meet, Suppa ran 8.71 in the preliminary round to finish 10th overall, earning Second Team All-American honors. During the indoor season, she also recorded a 7.69 in the 60 meters at the St. Lawrence Open and posted a time of 25.56 in the 200 meters at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships. Suppa's strong season also included two Empire 8 Track Athlete of the Week honors on December 8 and February 23.
Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) | 400m – Regional Ranking: #6 - Sophomore
Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) earned a No. 6 regional ranking in the 400 meters after posting a time of 57.75 at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 7, 2026. Her performance placed her among the top competitors in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field during the 2026 indoor season.Williams also had a standout performance in the 300 meters earlier in the season, breaking both the program and facility record with a time of 40.33 to win the event by more than two seconds. In recognition of her strong performances, Williams was named Empire 8 Field Athlete of the Week and Pioneer Athlete of the Week on January 19. This is William's second All-Region nomination this season as she was also a part of the 4x400m relay team that was recognized this season.
Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) | Pentathlon – Regional Ranking: #8 - Junior
Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) earned a No. 8 regional ranking in the pentathlon after scoring 2,938 points at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 7, 2026. Her performance placed seventh overall in the event and ranks as the second-best pentathlon score in program history for the Pioneers. Earlier in the season, she qualified for regionals with a score of 2,829 points, finishing fifth at an AARTFC qualifying meet.
4x400 Relay (Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills), Lilly Messler (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville), Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel)) – Regional Ranking: #4 - The Utica women's 4x400 relay team of
Arianna McClendon (Rome, NY/New York Mills),
Lilly Messler (Washingtonville, NY/Washingtonville),
Lacey Simmons (Vernon Center, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill), and
Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) earned a No. 4 regional ranking after posting a time of 3:57.36 at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 6, 2026. The group also placed seventh in the event, marking one of the top relay performances of the season for the Pioneers in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field.
Men
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) | 3000m / 5000m – Regional Ranking: #6 / #7 - Junior
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) earned a No. 6 regional ranking in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:28.39 at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 28, 2026. He also ranked No. 7 in the 5000 meters after recording a time of 15:04.22 at the Utica Blue and Orange Invitational on February 6, 2026. During the indoor campaign, Melita earned All-Region honors in the 3000m, 5000m, and distance medley relay while helping lead Utica to an Empire 8 Championship in the DMR. He also set program records in both the 3000m (8:30.99) and 5000m (14:55.60), capping off a standout indoor season.
Distance Medley Relay (Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central), Cameron Hoffis (Queensbury, NY/Lake George), Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central), and Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville)) – Regional Ranking: #4 - The Utica men's distance medley relay team of
Tobias Jeralds (Canaan, NY/Chatham Central),
Cameron Hoffis (Queensbury, NY/Lake George),
Forest Martin (Poland, NY/Poland Central), and
Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville), earned All-Region recognition after posting a time of 10:22.03 at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 27, 2026.The relay team captured the Empire 8 Championship title in the event and recorded one of the top times in program history during the 2026 indoor season. The group was also named All-Region in the Niagara region, highlighting their strong performance in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field competition.
Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) | Weight Throw – Regional Ranking: #7 - Senior
Joshua Talbot (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) earned a No. 7 regional ranking in the weight throw after recording a mark of 18.46 meters at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 28, 2026. His performance placed him among the top throwers in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field this season. Talbot's mark also ranks fourth all-time in program history and earned him All-Region honors in the Niagara region. His strong showing at the conference championships highlighted a competitive season in the weight throw for the Pioneers.
Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) | High Jump – Regional Ranking: #3 - Senior
Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) earned a No. 3 regional ranking in the high jump after clearing 1.97 meters at the Utica Holiday Classic on December 6, 2025. His mark placed him among the top high jumpers in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field during the 2026 indoor season. McCaskill also captured the high jump title at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships, winning the event with a jump of 1.96 meters. He added another first-place finish earlier in the season at the Pioneer Fast Trax Invite with a mark of 1.90 meters. A 2026 All-Region selection in the Niagara region, McCaskill was also named Pioneer Athlete of the Week on March 2 following his standout performances.
Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) | Weight Throw – Regional Ranking: #3 - Senior Spencer Borghard earned a No. 3 regional ranking in the weight throw after recording a mark of 18.86 meters at the All-DIII Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 7, 2026. His throw saw him achieve the school record for the event and placed him 13th overall heading into the Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he finished 11th overall with a throw of 18.06 meters, earning Second Team All-American honors. A national qualifier and All-Region selection, Borghardt also collected multiple weekly honors throughout the season, including Empire 8 Field Athlete of the Week (Jan. 19), Co-Field Athlete of the Week (Feb. 16), and Pioneer Athlete of the Week (March 16).
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) | 400m – Regional Ranking: #4 - Junior
Tanner Warren (Mohawk, NY/Central Valley Academy) earned a No. 4 regional ranking in the 400 meters after recording a time of 48.89 at the Pioneer Fast Trax Invite on February 14, 2026. Warren was also named an All-Region selection in the Niagara region and earned both Empire 8 Co-Track Athlete of the Week and Pioneer Athlete of the Week honors on January 26 following his standout performance.
Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)) | Triple Jump / Long Jump – Regional Ranking: #4 / #6 - Freshman
Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)) earned a No. 4 regional ranking in the triple jump after recording a mark of 14.22 meters at the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Championships on March 7, 2026. He also earned a No. 6 regional ranking in the long jump with a mark of 7.15 meters at the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships on February 27, 2026. Both marks rank among the top in program history, with his triple jump placing third all-time and his long jump ranking second all-time for the Pioneers. Spencer earned All-Region honors in both events, capping off an impressive freshman season in NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field.
