MYSTIC, Conn. – Binghamton’s Sydney Leitner, a standout in cross country and track & field, has been named the America East Woman of the Year, as announced by the conference at its annual awards banquet on Tuesday evening.
Leitner is the first Binghamton student-athlete to be named Woman of the Year. This award recognizes the conference's senior female student-athlete who has best distinguished herself throughout her collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.
Leitner has earned multiple all-conference honors across cross country and track & field, helping the Binghamton program reach new heights. Leitner graduated from the Decker School of Nursing with a 3.64 GPA as a nursing major.
A four-team first-team all-conference selection in cross country, Leitner helped the Bearcats capture 2023 #AEXC Championship, the first women’s cross country title in Binghamton history. She’s one of 10 runners in conference history to be a four-time first-team all-conference selection, including a fourth place finish this past fall.
A three-time captain, Leitner also helped the Bearcats to a pair of second place finishes in the outdoor championships and one second place finish at the 2024 indoor championship, where she earned points in both the 3K and the 5K events. Leitner also earned a pair of bronze medals during her career in the 10K at the outdoor conference championship and holds the school record in the 10K.
Off the track, Leitner served as an unpaid sports medicine intern in the Binghamton athletic department, working 6-8 hours per game throughout her final three years on campus, assisting athletic trainers wherever needed. She also served as co-president of Binghamton’s SAAC for three years, helping student-athletes advocate for needs on campus.
The nine nominees for the 2026 America East Woman of the Year award were announced on May 14, 2026. The America East Conference selected three finalists per gender for the prestigious honor, announced on May 26, 2026.
The America East began honoring a Woman of the Year in 2006. To view the complete listing of All-Time award winners, click here.
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 -