GENESEO, N.Y. - The Empire 8 announced its conference awards for women's outdoor track and field, and SUNY Geneseo came home with two major awards and 21 different student-athletes earning All-Conference recognition. Penelope Greene was named the Track Athlete of the Year, and the coaching staff, led by Chris Popovici, was named the Coaching Staff of the Year. Additionally, Janelle Eckl was named the Sportswoman of the Year for Geneseo.

Greene was named the Empire 8 Indoor Track Athlete of the Year after winning 2025 NCAA Championships in both the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events in dominant fashion from the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH from May 22-24. Greene began the meet by winning the 10,000-meters by 33 seconds in a time of 33:46.70. She then rolled to a nearly 15 second win in the 5,000-meters, crossing the finish line in a time of 16:01.55. She ran the sixth-fastest 5,000-meter time in NCAA history. Greene did lose an individual race against Division III competition during the spring, as she took the 5,000- and 10,000-meter title at the E8 Championships and won the 1,500-meters at the All-Atlantic Region Championships. Greene also set all-time Empire 8 records in the 1,500- (4:22.23), 5,000- (16:01.55) and 10,000-meters (33:42.16).

SUNY Geneseo head coach Chris Popovici and his staff of assistant coaches Dan Moore, Christian Johnson, Kieran Sheridan and Gwen Shepardson was named the 2025 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. The Knights won their first Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championship in dominant fashion and placed seventh at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Overall, Geneseo had 21 different student-athletes earn All-Conference honors, while Greene was national champion in the 5,000- and 10,000-meter events 400-meter dash, Greene, Gabriella McCarthy (10,000-meters) and Ann Brennan (3,000-meter steeplechase) earned First Team All-American honors. The Knights, who had 16 different student-athletes combine to earn 24 USTFCCCA All-Region accolades, shattered six E8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship records and 11 overall league marks in 2025.

Janelle Eckl was named to the Sportswoman of the Year team for Geneseo. "One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2025 Women's Indoor Track & Field Sportswoman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportswomen."

2025 Empire 8 Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship All-Conference Selections
  
100-Meter Hurdles
First Team: Jillian Ambler, So., SUNY Geneseo – :14.51
 
200-Meter Dash
Second Team: Brynn Mooney, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – :25.03
 
400-Meter Dash
First Team: Brynn Mooney, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – :55.21
Third Team: Nicole Gretzinger, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – :58.42
 
400-Meter Hurdles
Second Team: Ava Bagley, So., SUNY Geneseo – 1:04.64
Third Team: Elaina Flaitz, So., SUNY Geneseo – 1:05.62
 
800-Meter Run
First Team: Janelle Eckl, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 2:12.27
Second Team: Dakota Limbert, Fr.., SUNY Geneseo – 2:15.80
 
1,500-Meter Run
First Team: Sierra Doody, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 4:39.29
Third Team: Kaitlyn Grossman, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 4:44.28
 
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
First Team: Ann Brennan, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 10:52.11
Second Team: Jillian O'Rourke, So., SUNY Geneseo – 11:17.75
Third Team: Isabel Marzec, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 11:20.89
 
5,000-Meter Run
First Team: Penelope Greene, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 16:39.34
Second Team: Lilly Fowler-Conner, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 16:48.44
Third Team: Gabby McCarthy, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 17:30.24
 
10,000-Meter Run
First Team: Penelope Greene, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 38:13.69
Second Team: Gabby McCarthy, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 38:34.41
 
4 x 100-Meter Relay
First Team: Sam Pynn, Sr., Brynn Mooney, Jr., Jillian Ambler, So., Kayla Huba, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – :47.38
 
4 x 400-Meter Relay
First Team: Janelle Eckl, Sr., Nicole Gretzinger, Jr., Ava Bagley, So., Brynn Mooney, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 3:55.50
 
Pole Vault
Third Team: Nicole Gretzinger, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 3.35 meters
 
Long Jump
First Team: Jillian Ambler, So., SUNY Geneseo – 5.90 meters
 
Shot Put
First Team: Payton Mehalick, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 12.85 meters
Second Team: Zoe Connor, Gr., SUNY Geneseo – 12.77 meters
 
Discus Throw
First Team: Skyler Klimow, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 38.58 meters
Third Team: Ella Manelis, Fr., SUNY Geneseo – 34.92 meters
 
Hammer Throw
First Team: Zoe Connor, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 51.48 meters

Javelin Throw
Second Team: Skyler Klimow, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 37.51 meters