Track & Field

Abaka-Amuah & Moore Named Performers of the Year and #AETF All-Academic Teams Revealed

 BOSTON – Following conference titles in February, New Hampshire’s Sarah Moore and Yoofi -Abaka-Amuah have been named America East Indoor Track & Field Performers of the Year, while All-Academic Teams were also announced by the conference on Wednesday afternoon. 
 
Abaka-Amuah earned gold in both the shot put and weight throw at the 2026 America East Indoor Championship, becoming just the second male student-athlete to ever accomplish that feat. He won gold in a new championship record throw of 18.71 meters and the weight throw with a toss of 21.18 meters. His shot put top throw of 19.45 meters ranked 17th in the nation, just one spot from qualifying for nationals.  
 
Moore tied a conference record and earned gold in the long jump with a distance of 6.21 meters, 0.26 meters further than the second place finisher. She also placed fifth in the 60 meter dash with her time of 7.65 meters. At the 2026 NEICAA Championship, she won the 200 meter in a time of 24.70, which was the seventh fastest time in the conference during indoor season. Moore is the 2nd Wildcat woman to be named a Performer of the Year, as Ruth White claimed the honor during the 2025 outdoor season.
 
Eight different programs had at least one athlete named to the women’s all-academic team, led by two apiece from New Hampshire and UMass Lowell. Performer of the Year Sarah Moore was honored, while three others won an individual title at this year’s championship.  
 
Seven different men’s programs had at least one athlete recognized. Binghamton had a league-high three honorees, while UMass Lowell had a pair. Putu Sutayasa of the Bearcats was the lone individual champion recognized, while Derek Munroe posted the second highest heptathlon score in championship history.
 
To be eligible for All-Academic, student-athletes must have sophomore athletic eligibility, attain a 3.30 minimum grade-point average and be a contributor on their team. The squad is voted on by a committee made up of America East student-athlete support staff, athletic communications administrators as well as faculty athletic representatives.
 
America East is proud to have one of the most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the All-Academic program, Elite 18 Awards are bestowed in each of the conference’s sponsored sports. Additionally, a Scholar-Athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female is selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The conference also recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete award recognizes graduating student-athletes who compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher as an undergraduate student. Finally, the Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.

ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.
 
- America East Conference – Where Champions Rise -