SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces its 2023 Women's Indoor Track and Field Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie and Coaching Staff of the Year awards as voted on by the conference coaches.
Women's Indoor Track Athlete and Rookie of the Year – Natalia Sawyer, Buffalo State
Sawyer was voted the 2023 Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year and the Rookie of the Year. At the SUNYAC indoor championship, Sawyer earned the Women's Most Valuable Performer award by virtue of scoring the most points of any athlete at the meet (32 points in four events). She earned first team All-SUNYAC honors with a victory in the 400-meter dash, she also had a pair of second-place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash events and helped the 4x400-meter relay to a third-place finish. She went on to win the regional title in the 200-meter while breaking the meet record. Sawyer finished fifth at the NCAA championship in the 400-meter, while entering the meet ranked 16th. In doing so, she broke the Buffalo State and SUNYAC record.
Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year – Sarah Crockett, Brockport
For the second year in a row, Crockett has been voted the SUNYAC Women's Field Athlete of the Year. She repeated as the SUNYAC champion in both the shot put and weight throw in 2023. Crockett finished 18th in both the shot put and the weight throw at the NCAA championship meet. She finished the season ranked No. 13 in the shot put (13.90 meters) and No. 18 in the weight throw (17.18 meters). Crockett was named SUNYAC Women's Field Athlete of the Week five times this season.
Women's Indoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year – Geneseo
The Geneseo women's track and field coaching staff is led by head coach Chris Popovici and is assisted by Dan Moore, Kyle Rollins, Ashton Fischer, Camille Wutz, Maddie Herbert, Christian Johnson and Gerald Meade. This season, the Knights won their sixth-straight and 13th overall SUNYAC title with 18 athletes earning All-SUNYAC honors. At the Division III NCAA championship meet, six athletes earned All-American honors and the team finished 21st overall.
