Women's Indoor Track and Field | 6/11/2026 10:00:00 AM
Sierra Doody of the SUNY Geneseo women’s cross country and track and field teams was named the 2025-26 Empire 8 Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year, based on a vote by the conference Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs). The award honors one female student-athlete who best exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated scholar and athlete over the course of their collegiate careers.
Doody enjoyed an incredible four-year career for the Knights, excelling in both cross country and track and field. A standout on the cross country team, Doody led Geneseo to four conference titles (two SUNYAC and two Empire 8). She was a four-time first team all-conference selection, culminating in a third-place finish at the 2025 Empire 8 Championship. Doody was also a four-time United States Track and Field & Cross Country All-Niagara region selection, placing sixth at the regional championship in 2022, and tenth in both 2023 and 2025. She led the Knights to a pair of Niagara Regional Championships (2022 and 2023) and back-to-back fifth place finishes at the 2022 and 2023 NCAA Division III Women’s Cross Country Championships in addition to a ninth-place finish in 2024.
Doody was a three-time Indoor Track and Field First Team All-American and two-time Second Team All-American, highlighted by national-runner up honors in the 800-meters in 2026. She was also a two-time Outdoor Track and Field Second Team All-American. Doody, the 2025-26 Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, won back-to-back E8 Indoor Championships in the 800-meters and 4 x 400-meters and also won the mile run in 2025. She was the 2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Champion in the 800-meters and won the 1,500-meter run in 2025. Doody also won three SUNYAC Championship events.
Doody is the all-time Empire 8 record holder in the indoor 800-meters (2:08.82), outdoor 800-meters (2:08.09) and 4 x 400-meters (3:46.26). She competed at the NCAA Championships in 10 of her 12 opportunities while at Geneseo.
“Sierra's athletic ability and resume have stood out since her first season at Geneseo,” said SUNY Geneseo head coach Chris Popovici. “She possesses racing instincts and a tenacity that cannot be taught once the gun goes off on the track, and combined with her talent and work ethic, has produced one of the best running resumes ever cultivated for a Geneseo middle-distance athlete. Behind her track persona, she's a bright, humorous, kind, and caring teammate who is deeply invested in her team succeeding and represents Geneseo with pride.”
A native of Webster, N.Y., Doody recently earned her bachelor’s degree in both geography and sustainability studies from SUNY Geneseo, while carrying a tremendous 3.96 grade-point average to graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors. She was one of eight total student-athletes to be named a 2025-26 SUNY Geneseo Presidential Scholar.
In addition, Doody was a 2025 SUNY Geneseo Phi Beta Kappa (Alpha Delta Chapter) Inductee and 2025 National Council for Geographic Education Award winner, which was awarded to an outstanding undergraduate student in Geography. Doody was also a four-year member of the Edgar Fellows Honors Program member.
A three-time United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Academic All-American and College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection, Doody was named to the 2025 Empire 8 Cross Country Tomorrow’s Leaders Team and is a four-time Empire 8 President’s List selection for maintaining at least a 3.75 grade-point average.
Doody directed study/honors thesis research with Dr. Stephen Tulowiecki, analyzing predictors of trail-route popularity in the Adirondack Park, which became her Edgar Fellows Honors Program thesis for the 2025-2026 academic year. In addition, she presented at 2026 GIS/SIG Annual Conference in Rochester NY, and at SUNY Geneseo’s 2026 GREAT Day.
“For Sierra to be able to compete at such a high level without a true offseason during all four years of study is truly remarkable,” said Joe Venniro, Empire 8 Senior Associate Commissioner. “She became one of the most decorated Empire 8 student-athletes of all-time, while maintaining a near-perfect grade-point average as a double major. Sierra embodies the model student-athlete and has an incredibly bright future ahead of her.”
Doody plans on attending the University at Buffalo beginning Fall 2026 to earn her Master of Urban Planning (MUP) degree. She will be a graduate research assistant at the UB Regional Institute (UBRI) for the Fall 2026 semester.
“Over the three years I have known Sierra, I have been continuously amazed by two aspects of her character: the amount of care and effort she puts into both studies and sports, and the grace and grit with which she executes her responsibilities,” said Dr. Stephen Tulowiecki, Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Sustainability Studies at SUNY Geneseo. “She is one of the most composed and mature students I have had the pleasure of teaching, and is one of the best and most well-rounded students that our department has ever graduated.”
2025-26 Empire 8 Female Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year Finalists
Alina Zabihailo Alfred University – Tennis
Megan Gerber, SUNY Brockport – Flag Football/Soccer
Faith Ingber, Elmira College – Flag Football/Soccer
Sierra Doody, SUNY Geneseo – Cross Country/Track and Field
Shelby Swartz, Hartwick College – Softball/Volleyball
Crysta LaCrosse, Houghton University – Basketball
Samantha Luba, Nazareth University – Track & Field/Dance
Madelyn Wania, St. John Fisher University – Soccer