GENESEO, N.Y. - The Empire 8 announced its men's indoor track and field honors on Tuesday afternoon, and SUNY Geneseo won two major awards after winning the conference for the second-straight year.
Ryan Hagan earned Track Athlete of the Year honors, and the coaching staff, led by head coach
Chris Popovici, was named the Coaching Staff of the Year. The Knights also earned 20 All-Conferences honors from the championship meet.
Hagan, junior from Liverpool, NY, won the 1,500-meter run at the 2026 NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship, crossing the finish line in a time of 3:44.29 and was runner-up in the 800-meters in 1:49.17 to earn First Team All-American honors in each event. Hagan twice shattered the all-time Division III record in the 1,500-meters this season, with his fastest clocking of 3:37.19 set at Duke University on May 3. He shattered all-time Empire 8 records in the 800-meters (1:48.09), the 1,500-meters and 5,000-meters (13:55.68). Hagan was also a USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region selection in the 800-, 1,500- and 5,000-meters.
Head coach
Chris Popovici and his staff of assistant coaches
Dan Moore,
Christian Johnson,
Kieran Sheridan, and Gwen Shepardson was named the 2026 Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year. The Knights won their second consecutive Empire 8 Outdoor Track & Field Championship and placed fourth at the NCAA Championships. Overall, Geneseo had 23 different student-athletes earn All-Conference honors, while
Ryan Hagan (1,500-meters) and the 4 x 400-meter relay team of
Arjun Ojha,
Andrew Kent,
Sam Belmont, and
Jacob Miller were NCAA Champions. Seven different Knights earned First Team All-Americans honors. The Knights shattered three E8 Outdoor Track and Field Championship records and six overall league marks in 2026.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2026 Empire 8 Men's Outdoor Track and Field Tomorrow's Leaders Team. This team honors a student-athlete who has emerged as a leader not only on the field of play, but in the classroom and in the community. In addition, they "compete with honor and integrity" and have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen, and
Sam Belmont earned that honor for the Knights.
Full press release from the Empire 8
2026 Empire 8 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship All-Conference Selections
110-Meter Hurdles
First Team: William Hawken, Fr., SUNY Geneseo – :14.75
400-Meter Dash
First Team: Jacob Miller, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – :47.81
Second Team: Andrew Kent, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – :47.99
Third Team: Arjun Ojha, So., SUNY Geneseo – :48.33
400-Meter Hurdles
First Team: Sam Belmont, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – :52.40 (Empire 8 Championship Record)
800-Meter Run
First Team: Tim Sheahan, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 1:52.06
Third Team: Dawson Wadsworth, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 1:53.23
1,500-Meter Run
Second Team: Connor Hitt, So., SUNY Geneseo – 3:57.14
Third Team: Cameron Garofalo, Fr., SUNY Geneseo – 3:57.40
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
First Team: Pierce Young, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 8:58.96 (Empire 8 Championship Record)
Second Team: Emerson Comer, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 9:01.76
5,000-Meters
Second Team: Collin Brown, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 14:45.94
Third Team: Pierce Young, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 14:54.72
10,000-Meters
Second Team: Mike Taranto, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 31:20.14
4 x 100-Meter Relay
Second Team: Trey Feirman, Jr.,
Andrew Kent, Sr.,
Jack Towns, So., Nate Gonyeau, Fr., SUNY Geneseo – :42.02
4 x 400-Meter Relay
First Team: Arjun Ojha, So.,
Dawson Wadsworth, Jr.,
Sam Belmont, Jr.,
Jacob Miller, Sr., SUNY Geneseo – 3:13.97 (Empire 8 Championship Record)
4 x 800-Meter Relay
Third Team: Brandon Yanguas, So., Cayden Roblemo, So.,
Patrick Klehr, Fr.,
Ryan Hagan, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 7:58.51
Shot Put
Second Team: Raymond Trottier, Jr., SUNY Geneseo – 15.99 meters
Discus Throw
Third Team: Deklan Semo, Fr., SUNY Geneseo – 41.38 meters
Decathlon
First Team: Daniel Pagan, So., SUNY Geneseo – 6,162 points
