Men's Indoor Track & Field 3/10/2026 1:24:00 PM

Cougars' Indoor Track & Field programs dominate '25-'26 CUNYAC All-Star distinctions as Hugh Reid, 14 student-athletes earn honors

The City University of New York Athletic Conference revealed its end-of-year awards for the 2025-2026 indoor track and field season, as voted upon by the league's head coaches. Medgar Evers' track and field teams dominated the distinctions, with a total of 13 student-athletes/coaches earning honors.

Hugh Reid – Men's Coach of the Year

- Earned the men's Coach of the Year honor for the third straight year, and 10^th time in his legendary career
- Led the men's indoor track and field team to its third consecutive championship
- Under his tutelage, Medgar Evers achieved a total of 10 top performances in the conference during the season.
- Team achieved nine AARTFC qualifiers and broke five school records under his leadership

Reco Griffith – Men's Track Athlete of the Year

- Scored 27 points at CUNY Championships, winning the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash competitions
- Secured three AARTFC qualifiers in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, and 4x200 DMR)
- Was a seven-time CUNYAC Track Athlete of the Week

Omari Hinds – Men's Field Athlete of the Year

- Earned the Most Valuable Performer award at the CUNYAC Championship meet by earning 27 of a possible 27 points, as the standout won the triple jump, long jump and high jump events.
- Secured two AARTFC qualifiers in the high jump and triple jump competitions
- Set a Medgar Evers College record in the high jump (1.95 meters)
- Was a six-time CUNYAC Field Athlete of the Week

David Awaye – Men's Sportsmanship Award Recipient

- Works the graveyard shift as a security guard, often leaving work and boarding a Greyhound bus to meet his team in Connecticut or Massachusetts — just to compete. He does so without complaint, without excuse, and always with a smile.
- As a heptathlete ("multi"), Awaye pushes his 135-pound frame through one of the most grueling disciplines in track & field. Competing across seven demanding events requires physical toughness and mental resilience — especially when done on minimal rest.
- Between events, he is the first to cheer on teammates, engage respectfully with opponents, and uplift those around him with humor and positivity. He embodies competitive excellence without ego.
- Maintains a 3.476 GPA, is active in his church community, and leads youth Bible study on Thursday evenings. His actions reflect leadership, empathy, and courage.
- Does not simply represent Medgar Evers College well — he elevates the spirit of the entire City University of New York Athletic Conference.

The full contingent of male Cougars to make the All-Conference team were as follows: Awaye, Griffith, Hinds, Jahiem Johnson, Leshaun Miller, Chrisnel Nicolas, and Michael Ortega.

Brianna Lindo – Women's Track Athlete of the Year

- Earned the Most Valuable Performer distinction at the 2025-2026 CUNYAC championship, earning 35 track points. She captured the gold in the 60-meter hurdles and placed second in the 200, and third in the 60.
- Achieved two AARTFC Qualifiers (60mh, 4x200 MR).
- Broke six Medgar Evers College records (55mh, 60mh, 600m, 800m, 4x800MR, DMR).
- Won the CUNYAC Track Athlete of the Week award four times

Brianna Lindo – Women's Field Athlete of the Year

- Earned the Most Valuable Performer distinction at the 2025-2026 CUNYAC championship, earning 36 field points. She captured the gold in the high jump, long jump, and triple jump.
- Owns the top mark in the conference in the high jump (1.53m), the long jump (5.01m) and the triple jump (11.31m) while sitting second in the weight throw (11.05m) and sixth in the shot put (8.74m).
- Named CUNYAC Field Athlete of the Week three times
- Earned two AARTFC Qualifiers (triple jump and pentathlon).
- Earned a third place finished 3rd in TJ at AARTFC Championship
- Shattered three Medgar Evers College Records (TJ, LJ, and Pentathlon)

Sarah Vallon – Women's Sportsmanship Award Recipient

- Works two jobs while simultaneously serving as a team manager for three Medgar Evers College athletic programs — all while training and competing as a thrower and occasional runner for the track & field team. Her schedule would be overwhelming for most, yet she approaches it with consistency, humility, and humor.
- Has traveled as early as 3:00 a.m. to support and compete for her team. She does so without complaint, without excuse, and always with a smile or a joke to lift the spirits of those around her. She is routinely the first athlete at practice. If a workout is posted, she follows up. If the team is not training together, she goes to her own gym, completes the work, and sends videos to the team chat — holding herself accountable and modeling discipline for others.
- At competitions, Vallon's impact goes far beyond her own events. Between throws and races, she is the first to take out her phone to record teammates' performances, immediately sharing footage in the team chat so they can review and refine their technique. She is intentional about helping others improve. She engages respectfully with opponents, celebrates competitors' successes, and uplifts her teammates regardless of circumstance.
- Her leadership extends into the classroom and campus community. Vallon is active in the Women's Center, participates in SAAC, and tutors fellow student-athletes. She balances work, academics, service, and athletics with a maturity that reflects true character.
- Vallon does not merely represent Medgar Evers College well — she elevates the spirit and integrity of the entire City University of New York Athletic Conference. She embodies everything the Sportswoman of the Year award was created to honor: integrity, sacrifice, leadership, and unwavering commitment to team above self.

Rounding out the list of female Cougars to make the All-Conference team were as follows: Lindo, Vallon, Kenia Irish-Bramble, Jada Lambert, Danajah Lawrence, and Nana Samake.

The Full 2025-2026 Indoor Track & Field All-Conference teams can be seen below:

2025-2026 CUNYAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Major Award Recipients

Track Athlete of the Year: Reco Griffith, Medgar Evers
Field Athlete of the Year: Omari Hinds, Medgar Evers
Rookie of the Year: Mustapha Abubakar, CCNY
Coach of the Year: Hugh Reid, Medgar Evers
Sportsmanship Award: David Awaye, Medgar Evers
Sportsmanship Team: Matthew Zboinski (CCNY), Joscan Crespo (Hunter), Rismond Agyemang (Lehman), Bryan Ortiz (York)

2025-2026 CUNYAC Men's Indoor Track & Field All-Star Team

Michael Abayev, CCNY
Brian Arias, Hunter
Dylan Asuncion, Hunter
David Awaye, Medgar Evers
Cameron Dennis, Lehman
Reco Griffith, Medgar Evers
Omari Hinds, Medgar Evers
Charles Howard, Lehman
Jahiem Johnson, Medgar Evers
Leonardo Kaplan, Hunter
Benjamin Landheim, Hunter
Robert Liang-Xu, Hunter
Leshaun Miller, Medgar Evers
Chrisnel Nicolas, Medgar Evers
Michael Ortega, Medgar Evers
Mateo Penafiel, Hunter
Jormy Polo, Lehman
Marc Saint-Hilaire, Lehman
Jack Treacher, Hunter
Hengzhi Zhu, Hunter

2025-2026 CUNYAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Major Award Recipients

Track Athlete of the Year: Brianna Lindo, Medgar Evers
Field Athlete of the Year: Brianna Lindo, Medgar Evers
Rookie of the Year: Jennifer Hepburn, CCNY
Coach of the Year: Hugh Reid, Medgar Evers
Sportsmanship Award: Sarah Vallon, Medgar Evers
Sportsmanship Team: Mikelena Bouzy (CCNY), Rubilyn Navarro (Hunter), Shivani Raghuthu (Lehman), Keanna Clouden(York)

2025-2026 CUNYAC Women's Indoor Track & Field All-Star Team

Orianna Blackman, Hunter
Mikelena Bouzy, CCNY
Mikaelle Cesar, Hunter
Shannon Ferri, Hunter
Rachelle Griffith, Hunter
Jennifer Hepburn, CCNY
Kenia Irish-Bramble, Medgar Evers
Peach Kilroy, Hunter
Jada Lambert, Medgar Evers
Danajah Lawrence, Medgar Evers
Brianna Lindo, Medgar Evers
Taelyn Murray, Hunter
Daria Niebrzydowski, Hunter
Nana Samake, Medgar Evers
Tiara Smith, Hunter
Serena Warner, CCNY

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