2025-26 Empire 8 Women's Track and Field Athletes to Watch

Women's Indoor Track and Field | 1/20/2026 2:00:00 PM

SUNY Geneseo will look to earn its second straight indoor and outdoor Empire 8 Champions titles, as the 2025-26 women’s track and field season kicks into high gear this month as the second semester gets underway. 
 
The 2025-26 Empire 8 Indoor Championship will take place at Nazareth University’s Golisano Training Center on Friday, Feb. 27 and Saturday, February 28. The 2026 Empire 8 Outdoor Track and Field Championships are set to take place at St. John Fisher University's Polisseni Track and Field Complex on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2. 
 
ALFRED UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Matt Phillips
Zoe Rainville, Jr., Sprints, Saranac, NY/Saranac – Rainville is a 2024 Empire 8 first team all-conference member and champion in the outdoor 4x400-meter relay. She will be an exciting watch in the sprint events this indoor and outdoor season. 

Natalya Ryckman, Sr., Throws, New Eagle, PA/Ringgold – Ryckman holds the Alfred University school record for the Outdoor Hammer Throw where she threw for 47.77 meters. She hit that record in the 2025 outdoor season. At the 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship, she placed fifth in the Hammer Throw, throwing 47.18 meters. 
 
SUNY BROCKPORT - Head Coach Ed Jaskulski
Alexis Rodriguez, Sr., Hurdles/Sprints, Williamson, NY/Williamson – Rodriguez had record 2024-25 seasons. Indoor, she finished fifth at the Empire 8 Championship in the 200-meter dash and third in the 400-meter run. She earned all-region honors in the 4x400-meter relay. Outdoor, she had a second place finish at the Empire 8 Championship in the 4x100-meter relay and was the champion in the 400-meter hurdles. She earned all-region and all-american honors in the 400-meter hurdles. 
 
Sasha Schramm, Sr., Jumps, Bergen, NY/Byron Bergen – Schramm enjoyed impressive finishes in 2024-25. Indoor, she finished third at the Empire 8 Championship in the Long Jump going 5.42 meters. She earned all-region accolades for indoor long jump. Outdoor, she finished fifth at the Empire 8 Championship in the High Jump and finished third in the Long Jump going 5.63 meters. She went on to earn all-region in the outdoor Long Jump. 
 
SUNY GENESEO - Head Coach Chris Popovici
Jillian Ambler, Jr., Hurdles/Long Jump, Fairport, NY/Fairport – Ambler impressed in her sophomore season. Indoor, she placed second at the Empire 8 Championship in the 60-Meter Hurdles and was the Champion in the Long Jump going 5.71 meters. She earned all-region and all-american accolades in the 4x400-Meter Relay, 60-Meter Hurdles and the Long Jump. Outdoor, she was the Empire 8 Champion in the 100-Meter Hurdles, the 4x100-Meter Relay and the long jump. She earned all-region and all-american honors in all three events. 
 
Sierra Doody, Sr., Distance, Webster, NY/Webster – Doody, in her first season in the Empire 8, put some Championships under her belt. She was the Empire 8 Indoor Champion in the 800-Meter Run (2:12.31), the Mile Run (5:00.33) and the 4x400-Meter Relay (3:56.71). She earned all-region nods in all three events. During the outdoor season, Doody was the 1,500-Meter Empire 8 Champion. She earned all-region accolades in the 4x400-Meter Relay, the 800-Meter Run and 1,500-Meter Run. She was an all-american in the 4x400-Meter Relay. 
 
HARTWICK COLLEGE - Head Coach Lindsey Kunkel
Brynita Haas, Sr., Distance, Red Creek, NY/Red Creek – Haas is a three-time Empire 8 Player to Watch. She earned a personal record in the 5,000-Meter Run at the Empire 8 Indoor Championship with a 19:29.63 finish.
 
Julia Weinschreider, So., Distance, Williamson, NY/Williamson – Weinschreider will be a contender in distance races this season. In her debut as a Hawk, she earned a person record in the 3,000-Meter Run at the Empire 8 Indoor Championship with a time of 11:50.75. She earned another in the Steeplechase at the E8 Outdoor Championship finishing at 12:41.86. 

HOUGHTON UNIVERSTY - Head Coach Austin Beauregard
Victoria Brewster, Jr., Sprints, Montour Falls, NY/Odessa-Montour – Brewster, the 2023-24 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year, had a fantastic sophomore season. She was the Empire 8 Indoor Champion in the 60-Meter Dash finishing at :07.59. She added a third place finish in the 200-Meter Dash. She went on to earn all-region and all-american honors in the 60-Meter Dash. Outdoor, she was the Empire 8 Champion in the 100-Meter Dash with a time of :11.99. She finished third in the 200-Meter Dash.
 
Noelle Linenfelser, Sr., Mid-Distance, Grand Island, NY/Grand Island – Linenfelser is a repeat Empire 8 Player to Watch. At the 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Championship, she placed fourth in the 10,000-Meter Run with a time of 39:44.95 and eighth in the 5,000-Meter Run. She qualified in both events for the regional meet. 
 
NAZARETH UNIVERSITY - Head Coach James Goss
Alexis Lasher, Sr., Sprints, Rome, NY/Oriskany – Lasher finished fourth in the Empire 8 Indoor Championship with a :12.58 finish. That was a personal record, and earned her the number three spot in school history. She finished seventh at the Empire 8 Outdoor Championship in the 200-Meter Dash. Her :26.23 finish was another PR and placed her fifth in school history. She went on to qualify for the regional meet in the 200-Meter and the 4x100-Meter Relay. 
 
Isabel Morse, Sr., Pole Vault, Ithaca, NY/Charles O. Dickerson – Morse, a multiple Empire 8 Player to Watch, had a fantastic 2024-25 season. She was the 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Champion in Pole Vault (3.77-Meters) and the runner-up at the E8 Outdoor Championship (3.50-Meters). She earned all-region and all-american accolades for Pole Vault for both the indoor and outdoor seasons. 
 
RUSSELL SAGE COLLEGE - Head Coach Regan Grube
Catherine Newkirk, Fr., Sprints/Hurdles, Marathon, NY/Marathon – Newkirk, who was a field hockey student-athlete in the fall, is an exciting addition for the Gators. She will be fun to watch in the sprint events this season.  
 
Alexius Smith, Sr., Jumps, Cohoes, NY/Cohoes – Smith set some records in her junior season for the Gators. During the indoor season, she set the program record in the High Jump (1.40-Meters). She improved on that height at the Empire 8 Outdoor Championship where she jumped 1.45-Meters. 
 
ST. JOHN FISHER UNIVERSITY - Head Coach Geoffrey Grambo
Kathryn Hillyard, So., Pole Vault/Jumps, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora – Hillyard impressed in her debut season. She finished third at the 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Championship, then later matched her school indoor record in the Pole Vault at the regional meet with a mark of 3.47-meters. She placed second at the E8 Indoor Championship in the High Jump jumping 1.63-meters. She earned all-region accolades for the High Jump. Outdoor, she tied for third at the E8 Outdoor Championship in Pole Vault (3.35-meters). She placed third in the High Jump at 1.60-meters. 
 
Caitlin Voloshen, Sr., Distance, Bethlehem, PA/Nazareth Area – Voloshen set the women's program indoor record in the mile with a third place time of 4:59.77 at the regional meet last season, earning an all-region nod. She placed third at the 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Championship in the event. Outdoor, she finished third at the E8 Outdoor Championship in the 800-Meter Run at 2:16.63. 
 
UTICA UNIVERSITY - Head Coach James Lemieux
Allie Cary, Jr., Throws, Liverpool, NY/Liverpool – Cary is expected to be a strong competitor in 2026. In the 2024 season, she earned Empire 8 all-conference accolades as well as all-region selections in the Discus Throw and Shot Put. 
 
Laura Suppa, Gr., Hurdles, Canastota, NY/Canastota/Ithaca College – During her time at Ithaca College, she earned numerous all-region and all-american honors for the 60-meter hurdles and 100-meter hurdles. She will be an immediate contender in hurdles events in the Empire 8.   

Final 2024-25 Empire 8 Women’s Indoor Track and Field Championship Results
Geneseo – 265 Points – League Champions
Nazareth – 118
Brockport – 97
St. John Fisher – 90
Utica – 38
Houghton – 37
Alfred – 15
Hartwick - 1
Russell Sage - 1
 
Final 2025 Empire 8 Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship Results
Geneseo – 331 Points – League Champions
Brockport – 149.5
St. John Fisher – 122
Nazareth – 114
Utica – 51.5
Houghton – 49
Alfred – 26
Hartwick - 2
Russell Sage - 1
 

• Brynn Mooney, Geneseo, So., Sprints, Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima - 2024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 200-Meter Dash All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 400-Meter Run All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 4x100-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 100-Meter Dash All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 200-Meter Dash All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 400-Meter Run All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay First Team All-American, 2024-25 Indoor 400-Meters First Team All-American and NATIONAL CHAMPION, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-American, 2025 Outdoor 200-Meter Dash All-American.
• Courtney Bostic, Brockport, Sr., Sprints, East Chicago, IL/Brighton - 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region
• Monica Cammarota, Brockport, So., Sprints/Hurdles, Niskayuna, NY/Niskayuna - 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region
• Payton Mehalik, Brockport, Sr., Throws, Queensbury, NY - 2025 Outdoor Shot Put All-Region
• Alexis Rodriguez, Brockport, Sr., Hurdles/Sprints, Williamson, NY/Williamson - 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 400-Meter Hurdles All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 400-Meter Hurdles All-American
• Sasha Schramm, Brockport, Sr., Jumps, Bergen, NY/Byron-Bergen - 2024-25 Indoor Long Jump All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Long Jump All-Region
• Jillian Ambler, Geneseo, Jr., Pentathlon, Fairport, NY/Fairport - 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 60-Meter Hurdles All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor Long Jump All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 4x100-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 100-Meter Hurdles All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Long Jump All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor Long Jump Second Team All-American, 2024-25 Indoor 60-Meter Hurdles Second Team All-American, 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay First Team All-American, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-American, 2025 Outdoor 100-Meter Hurdles All-American, 2025 Outdoor Long Jump All-American
• Ava Bagley, Geneseo, Jr., Hurdles, Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima - 2025 Outdoor 400-Meter Hurdles All-Region
• Ann Brennan, Geneseo, Sr., Distance, Honeoye Falls, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima - 2024-25 Indoor 3,000-Meter Run All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Steeplechase All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Steeplechase All-American
• Sierra Doody, Geneseo, Sr., Distance, Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder - 2024-25 Indoor 800-Meter Run All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor Mile Run All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 800-Meter Run All-Region, 1,500-Meter Run All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 800-Meter Run Second Team All-American, 2024-25 Indoor 4x400-Meter Relay First Team All-American, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-American
• Elaina Flaitz, Geneseo, Jr., Hurdles/High Jump, Hornell, NY/Hornell - 2024-25 Indoor Pentathlon All-Region
• Nicole Gretzinger, Geneseo, Sr., Pole Vault/Sprints, Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa - 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 4x400-Meter Relay All-American
• Kayla Huba, Geneseo, Sr., Sprints, Albany, NY- 2025 Outdoor 4x100-Meter Relay All-Region
• Lauren Jaklitsch, Geneseo, Sr., Throws, Mt. Sinai, NY - 2024-25 Indoor Weight Throw All-Region
• Skyler Klimlow, Geneseo, Sr., Javelin, Webster, NY/Webster Thomas - 2025 Outdoor Javelin
• Alexa Belanger, Houghton, So., Jumps, Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake - 22024-25 Empire 8 Indoor Rookie of the Year, 2025 Empire 8 Outdoor Rookie of the Year, 2024-25 Indoor High Jump All-Region, 2025 Outdoor High Jump All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor High Jump Second Team All-American, 2025 Outdoor High Jump All-American
• Victoria Brewster, Houghton, Jr., Sprints, Montour Falls, NY/Odessa-Montour - 2023-24 Empire 8 Indoor Rookie of the Year, 2024-25 Indoor 60-Meter Dash All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor 60-Meter Dash First Team All-American
• Sydney LaSalle, Nazareth, Sr., Jumps/Multi, Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy - 2025 Outdoor Triple Jump All-Region
• Samantha Luba, Nazareth, Sr., Hurdles, Buffalo, NY/Frontier - 2024-25 Indoor Pentathlon All-Region, 2025 Outdoor 100-Meter Hurdles
• Isabel Morse, Nazareth, Sr., Pole Vault/Hurdles, Ithaca, NY/Charles O. Dickerson - 2024-25 Indoor Pole Vault All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Pole Vault All-Region, 2024-25 Indoor Pole Vault Second Team All-American, 2025 Outdoor Pole Vault All-American
• Kiara Tornusciolo, Nazareth, Sr., Pole Vault, Lansing, NY/Lansing - 2025 Outdoor Pole Vault All-Region
• Kathryn Hillyard, St. John Fisher, So., Pole Vault/Jumps, East Aurora, NY/East Aurora - 2024-25 Indoor High Jump All-Region
• Erin McGuinness, St. John Fisher, Sr., Throws, Oceanside, NY/Oceanside - 2024-25 Indoor Shot Put All-Region, 2025 Outdoor Shot Put All-Region
• Anna Steed, St. John Fisher, Sr., Throws, Fairport, NY/Fairport - 2025 Outdoor Shot Put
• Caitlin Voloshen, St. John Fisher, Sr., Distance, Bethlehem, PA/Nazareth Area - 2024-25 Indoor Mile Run All-Region
• Hannah Allison, Utica, Jr., Jumps/Multi, Herkimer, NY/Herkimer - 2024-25 Indoor High Jump All-Region, 2025 Outdoor High Jump All-Region
• Stefania Grimaldi, Utica, Jr., Multi, Poland, NY/Poland Central - 2025 Outdoor Heptathlon