WATERVILLE, Maine – The 2026 North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Men’s Outdoor Track & Field postseason accolades have been announced. Awards include Track Athlete of the Year, Field Athlete of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year, Senior Scholar-Athlete, and selections to the First and Second All-Conference Teams in accordance with placement in each event in the NAC Championship, which was held at the University of Maine on April 25-26.

University of Maine at Farmington claimed three of the five major awards with Andrew LaFlamme (Nashua, N.H.) earning the 2026 NAC Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year, Alex Crews (Winslow, Maine) taking Field Athlete of the Year honors, and first-year Lucas Witkowski (Cromwell, Conn.) being named Rookie of the Year. Husson University’s Thomas Hinton (Brownington, Vt.) was recognized as the Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Senior Scholar Athlete. Rounding out the honors, the coaching staff from Thomas College was named the NAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year.

Each season, the NAC names a Sportsmanship Team, with one honoree per institution nominated by their head coach. This recognition is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and positively impact the culture of track & field with integrity beyond the sport’s requirements. The six NAC Sportsmanship Team honorees are listed below.
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Junior distance runner Andrew LaFlamme earns his first NAC Track Athlete of the Year honor following a standout season in which he set two University of Maine at Farmington program records in the 5,000 meters (15:25) and 10,000 meters (31:52). At the NAC Championship, LaFlamme captured the 5,000-meter title while finishing second in both the 3000-meter steeplechase and 1,500 meters, totaling 26 points. He earned First Team All-Conference honors in the 5,000 meters and Second Team recognition in both the 1,500 meters and steeplechase.
 
LaFlamme currently tops the NAC performance list in the 3000-meter steeplechase, 5,000 meters, and 10,000 meters, holding significant leads in each, in addition to ranking second in the 1,500 meters. A three-time NAC Track Athlete of the Week selection, he also claimed the 5,000-meter title at the SNHU Spring Invitational against a competitive Division II and III field. Regionally, he ranks 16th in both the 10,000 meters and 3000-meter steeplechase.
  Crews delivered a stellar junior season, cementing his place among the top performers in Farmington program history. Crews set two UMF program records in the shot put (14.91m) and discus (41.36m), while earning an automatic New England qualifier in the shot put. Crews also posted two provisional New England qualifying marks in the hammer throw (46.21m) and discus.
 
At the NAC Championship meet, Crews dominated the field, winning both the shot put and hammer throw while placing second in the discus, totaling 28 team points. He currently leads the NAC performance list in shot put by over a foot and in hammer throw by an impressive 18 feet, while ranking second in discus. Throughout the season, Crews was named NAC Field Athlete of the Week three times.  
He also impressed at the Maine State Pine Tree Classic, placing second in shot put, third in discus, and fourth in hammer throw, contributing 19 points. His postseason honors include First Team All-Conference recognition in shot put and hammer throw, along with Second Team honors in discus. Regionally, Crews ranks 7th in shot put and 16th in both discus and hammer throw in the East Region.
 
Crews recently competed in the New England Championship where he earned seventh place overall in shot put (14.46) and received his first All-Region recognition.
 

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Rookie of the Year – Lucas Witkowski, UMaine-Farmington

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Lucas Witkowski delivered a strong debut campaign, highlighted by a New England provisional qualifying mark in the 400 meters (50.74). At the NAC Championship meet, Witkowski made an immediate impact across multiple events, highlighted by a second-place finish in the 400 meters and a third-place finish in the 200 meters. He also played a key role in both the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays, helping each squad to second-place finishes, including anchoring the 4x400 meter in 51.14 to secure the silver.
 
Witkowski was also recognized as NAC Rookie of the Week once during the season and while competing at the Maine State Pine Tree Classic, he placed fourth in the 400 meters. Regionally, Witkowski finished 32nd in the East Region in the 400 meters.
 

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Senior Scholar Athlete – Thomas Hinton, Husson University

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The Eagle’s Hinton has been recognized as this year’s NAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Senior Scholar-Athlete, highlighting his success both on the track and in the classroom. On the track, Hinton recorded a runner-up finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the UMaine Spring Opener and placed fifth in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2026 NAC Championship meet. In the classroom, Hinton holds a 3.42 GPA while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medicine with a minor in Biology. He has earned Dean’s List recognition once and has been honored with both the Eagle Award and Eager Eagle Award. Beyond academics and competition, Hinton has been actively involved in SAAC, the Leadership Council, and Pre-Med club. His commitment to service includes volunteering with Warm the Children, Commit to Get Fit, and the Wash Foundation.

He also completed an internship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and contributed to research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute on a project titled “Seed It or Leave It: A Look at Cell Seeding Effects on Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts.” Hinton will continue his academic journey at Dartmouth College’s Geisel School of Medicine, pursuing a Master of Science in Healthcare Research.
 

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Coaching Staff of the Year – Thomas College

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The Thomas coaching staff, led by Head Coach Ian Wilson, has been named the 2026 NAC Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Coaching Staff of the Year. Assistant coaches Alanna McDonough Tucker,  Max Bojarski, and Will Carrolton share the honor, as the group guided the Terriers to a NAC Championship sweep—earning Coaching Staff of the Year recognition for both the men’s and women’s programs.
 
Major Awards
Track Athlete of the Year – Andrew LaFlamme, UMaine-Farmington
Field Athlete of the Year – Alex Crews, UMaine-Farmington
Rookie of the Year – Lucas Witkowski, UMaine-Farmington
Coaching Staff of the Year – Thomas College
Senior Scholar Athlete – Thomas Hinton, Husson University
 
Sportsmanship Team
Jonathan Cayole, VTSU Johnson
Kieran Everett, UMaine-Presque Isle
Jimmy Fenton, UMaine-Farmington
Miles Gadwah, Thomas College
Trey Goodwin, Husson University
Jamarick Preston, Lesley University
 
First Team All-Conference
110-METER HURDLES: Matthew Scamman (Husson) – 15.60
100-METER DASH: Nick Plamondon (Thomas) – 10.83
3000-METER STEEPLECHASE: James Riley (UMF) – 10:19.79
4x100 METER RELAY: Husson University – 43.29
               Dillon Haughton, Carmy Kaniki, Matthew Scamman, Christian Zapata
1500-METER RUN: Gage Bruns (Thomas) – 4:04.95
400-METER DASH: Carmy Kaniki (Husson) 50.73
800-METER RUN: Ethan Linscott (UMF) – 2:01.06
400-METER HURDLES: Christian Zapata (Husson) – 58.19
200-METER DASH: Nick Plamondon (Thomas) 22.36
5000-METER RUN: Andrew LaFlamme (UMF) – 15:50.91
4x400-METER RELAY: Thomas College – 3:33.69
               Patrick McKenney, Lukas MacLean, Alwin Andree, Gage Bruns
SHOT PUT: Alex Crews (UMF) – 14.91m
DISCUS THROW: Joseph Tuulima (UMPI) – 42.28m RECORD
LONG JUMP: Nick Plamondon (Thomas) – 6.97m RECORD
TRIPLE JUMP: Kaden Mills (Thomas) – 12.89m
HIGH JUMP: Jontreaz Hardy (Thomas) – 1.87m
POLE VAULT: Miles Gadwah (Thomas) – 3.40m
JAVELIN THROW: Caleb Russo (Thomas) – 53.49m
HAMMER THROW: Alex Crews (UMF) – 44.85m
 
Second Team All-Conference
110-METER HURDLES: Mykal Roberson (Husson) – 16.26
100-METER DASH: Jontreaz Hardy(Thomas) – 11.29
3000-METER STEEPLECHASE: Andrew LaFlamme (UMF) – 10:21.48
4x100 METER RELAY: UMF – 43.47
               Chase Nixon, Lucas Witkowski, Jake Lepper, and Logan Burns
1500-METER RUN: Andrew LaFlamme (UMF) – 4:05.66
400-METER DASH: Lucas Witkowski (UMF) 50.74
800-METER RUN: Patrick McKenney (Thomas) – 2:01.76
400-METER HURDLES: Matthew Scamman (Husson) – 58.71
200-METER DASH: Carmy Kaniki (Husson) 22.89
5000-METER RUN: Prince Calhoun (Lesley) – 16:17.06
4x400-METER RELAY: UMF – 3:37.73
               Logan Burns, Hans Bakke, Ethan Linscott, and Lucas Witkowski
SHOT PUT: Joseph Tuulima (UMPI) – 14.01m
DISCUS THROW: Alex Crews (UMF) – 41.36m 
LONG JUMP: Logan Burns (UMF) – 6.69m 
TRIPLE JUMP: Jontreaz Hardy (Thomas) – 12.64m
HIGH JUMP: Tariq Martin (UMPI) – 1.82m
POLE VAULT: Owen Booker (UMF) – 3.25m
JAVELIN THROW: Owen Booker (UMF) – 49.75m
HAMMER THROW: Noel Matista (UMF) – 40.18m