UTICA, NY - The Utica University track and field team has added even more accolades to its historic 2026 outdoor campaign, as the program attained 16 USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region honors from 12 different athletes, showcasing their skill against some of the top talent in the Northeast.

All-Region status can be achieved by any athlete who finishes in the top 8 in their event at the regional level. Any athlete who places in the top eight in the region has their name listed for that event.

Women All-Region Honors

Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) | #1 Discus Throw, #2 Shot Put - Allie Cary (Liverpool, NY/Liverpool) adds yet another pair of accolades to her resume. Her toss of 46.59m at the SUNY Cortland Classic in mid-April allowed her to notch the #1 overall ranking in the region for the Discus Throw, which she paired with a second-place Shot Put mark of 13.91m, which she also obtained at the SUNY Cortland Classic. Those performances were part of a weekend-long tear that saw Cary take home four first-place finishes. She received a pair of All-Region accolades to honor her achievements in both the Discus Throw and Shot Put. 

Shiann Williams (Bronx, NY/Hydel) | #5 200m, #5 400m - Williams became the second and final lady Pioneer to take home multiple All-Region accolades after she dominated in the 200m and 400m. Her stellar sprinting splits earned her a #5 finish in both events. Her top 200m time occurred at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships, where she notched a 24.89. Her top mark in the 400m came during a hot weekend for the program, as she also showed out at the SUNY Cortland Classic, grabbing a time of 56.94. 

Hannah Allison (Herkimer, NY/Herkimer) | #2 High Jump - Allison wrapped up her stellar campaign with a #2 regional ranking in the High Jump, which she obtained at the Empire 8 Outdoor Championships. Allison would take home the Empire 8 Outdoor High Jump Championship at the important event thanks to a 1.64m leap. She gained an All-Region honor thanks to this spectacular finish. 

Jade Bailey (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) | #5 Heptathlon - Rookie all-arounder Jade Bailey (Dolgeville, NY/Dolgeville) got her career off to a strong start this season, capped off by a #5 regional ranking in the Heptathlon, which she obtained at the SUNY Cortland Classic thanks to a point total of 3,851. Bailey showed lots of promise in her debut season and earned an All-Region accolade to build momentum for the years to follow.

Stefania Grimaldi (Poland, NY/Poland Central) | #7 Heptathlon - Bailey wasn't alone at the top of the regional Heptathlon rankings, though, as last year's Empire 8 Champion Grimaldi was also game throughout the season, grabbing a #7 regional ranking and an All-Region nod. Grimaldi racked up 3,822 points during a second-place finish at the Empire 8 Outdoor Championships. She would also place #9 in the region for the Javelin Throw, narrowly missing out on a second All-Region honor.

Marlo Townsend (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) | #7 10,000m - Townsend set the new Empire 8 Outdoor Championships 10,000m record this past spring as she claimed a big gold medal in the event. Her mark of 36:34.16 also saw her shoot up to the #7 spot in the regional rankings, netting the long-distance star an All-Region honor.

Men All-Region Honors

Kaiden McCaskill (Rome, NY/Rome Free Academy) | #1 High Jump - McCaskill, the indoor High Jump conference champion, also tested his mettle at the AARTFC Championships this past spring, coming away with a big leap of 2.02m, which secured him a #1 ranking in the region. His top marks also clinched an All-Region accolade for the local product. 

Bennett Melita (Johnstown, NY/Fonda-Fultonville) | #3 3000m Steeplechase, #8 5000m - Melita managed to achieve yet another pair of accolades, grabbing a #3 regional ranking in the 3000m Steeplechase and a #8 ranking in the 5000m. Melita would clinch his first career berth in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships thanks to his steeplechase time of 9:02.80 at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships. In addition, he took home an Empire 8 Championship in the 5000m thanks to a 14:40.47, which also saw him place #8 in the region.

Wayne Spencer (Rochester, NY/Padilla (Franklin Campus)) | #3 Long Jump, #5 Triple Jump - Spencer, the two-time Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, joined Melita as the other men's team athlete to take home multiple All-Region honors, ranking top 8 in both the Long Jump and Triple Jump. Long Jump would be Spencer's primary success, as his 7.29m leap at the Empire 8 Championships allowed him to take home gold in the event, while also qualifying him for the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships. Spencer would leap 14.48m in the triple jump at the AARTFC Outdoor Championships to snag his second All-Region honor. 

Spencer Borghardt (Smithtown, NY/St.Anthony's) | #5 Hammer Throw - Borghardt, an indoor All-American back in March, kept up his stellar success in the Hammer Throw, as he finished with the fifth-best toss in the region, earning him an All-Region accolade. His 57.20m throw at the AARTFC saw the senior make one final strong attempt at securing a place in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, a spot which he missed by mere centimeters. Regardless, he would also finish #27 nationally for the Hammer Throw, netting an All-Region honor. 

Aaron Johnson (Sauquoit, NY/Sauquoit Valley) | #5 Pole Vault - Johnson did well in his first collegiate season, shattering numerous Pole Vault records in quick succession as he immediately etched his name into the Pioneer record books. His numerous first-place finishes gave him the momentum to secure an All-Region honor to cap off his rookie campaign. Johnson would secure this All-Region nod thanks to a 4.64m vault at the Utica Pioneer Spring Invite.

Justin Couture (Sherrill, NY/Vernon-Verona-Sherrill) | #8 Triple Jump - Couture landed a stellar jump back at the Utica Pioneer Spring Invitational to place #8 in the region. His jump of 14.00m was enough to see him slot into the final All-Region slot for the triple jump.