The Emory University track & field programs cleaned up with regional honors as the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their end-of-season honors for outdoor track & field this past Thursday afternoon.
In total, five different Eagles were recognized for their performances during the outdoor season as well as their efforts at the NCAA Championships at the end of May. Emory swept both Field Performer of the Year honors with senior Henry Brandstadter and sophomore Abigail Roberts earning recognition while three members of the coaching staff were honored with Head Coach Linh Nguyen and Assistant Coaches Jessica Fritsche-Hill and Karl Nyholm being named award recipients.
Brandstadter closes out his impeccable career with his fourth career USTFCCA South Region Athlete of the Year award as well as his second for outdoors after he finished as the runner-up in the long jump at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships with a leap of 7.74m (25-4¾) that moved him up to No. 9 in NCAA DIII history. Earlier in the season, he won both the high jump and long jump at the UAA Championships, as well as titles in the 100m and 200m, as he became the first athlete in UAA history to sweep both Most Outstanding Performer awards.
Roberts secures her first career regional award as she also finished as the runner-up in the hammer throw at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships with a PR and school record of 57.76m (189-6). Earlier in the season, she won the hammer at the UAA Championships.
Nguyen collects his second straight outdoor track & field South Region Women's Head Coach of the Year honor after leading the Eagles to a runner-up team finish at the UAA Outdoor Championships, winning four events. Emory, ranked No. 1 in the South Region, also had a 22nd-place team at the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships, earning seven All-America honors.
Fritsche-Hill lands her first Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for the South Region this year as she coached Brandstadter to a runner-up finish in the long jump at the 2026 NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships while moving to No. 9 in DIII history at 7.74m (25-4¾). Furthermore, her athletes scored 24 points at the UAA Outdoor Championships, and Emory's triple jumpers ranked No. 3 in the national Event Squad Rankings.
Nyholm was recognized with his first Assistant Coach of the Year award after being named the South Region' Women's Assistant COY as he coached Roberts to a runner-up finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships. Roberts was one of three Nyholm-coached athletes who qualified for the NCAA Championships. Nyholm's athletes combined for 62 of Emory's 198 points at the UAA Championships and won two event titles.
