SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The SUNYAC announces the 2023 Men's Indoor Track & Field Track Athlete, Field Athlete, Rookie, and Coaching Staff of the Year awards as voted on by the conference coaches.
Men's Indoor Track Athlete of the Year – Ezra Ruggles, Geneseo
Ruggles ran an all-time best 4:04.88 at the NCAA championship in the mile to place third overall. That time broke the Geneseo school record. Ruggles also ran on the NCAA champion distance medley relay (DMR) team for Geneseo as lead-off in a 2:58 split. Has was voted the SUNYAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Performance after he earned 18 points at the conference championship. He set a meet record in the mile (4:08.39) with his first place finish and he finished second in the 3000-meter race. Ruggles also won the mile at the AARTFC championship in 4:06.03, setting a meet record in the event.
Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year - Zach Nyhart, Cortland
Nyhart was the 2023 SUNYAC champion in the pole vault matching the 5.00 meter meet record. He earned first team All-SUNYAC honors and qualified for the NCAA championship meet. At the NCAA Division III meet, Nyhart had an All-American seventh place finish (4.85m). He also earned All-Niagara Region honors.
Men's Indoor Track & Field Rookie of the Year – Jacob Miller, Geneseo
Miller anchored the first place 4x400 relay for Geneseo at the NCAA Division III championship. At the SUNYAC championship meet, he won the 400-meter individual title and anchored the first place 4x400 relay team to earn first team All-Conference honors. This season, he set a school record in the 600-meter with a time of 1:21.79 and he was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that ran 3:11.64, which is the third fastest time in NCAA Division III history.
Men's Indoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year - Geneseo
The Geneseo men'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 13 athletes earning All-SUNYAC honors. At the Division III NCAA championship meet both the DMR and the 4x400 meter relay finished first to win the national title. Seven different athletes earned All-American honors and the team finished tied for second overall, a program best.
