NCAA Champs Collect Big Ten Awards
06/17/26 | Track and Field
Simeon Birnbaum, Aaliyah McCormick and Ben Smith were recognized by the league’s head coaches.
EUGENE, Ore. – The Ducks' national champion trio of Simeon Birnbaum, Aaliyam McCormick and Ben Smith earned Big Ten year-end awards as announced Wednesday by the league office. Birnbaum and McCormick were named Big Ten Men's and Women's Track Athletes of the Year, and Smith repeated Freshman of the Year accolades to go along with his indoor award.
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Birnbaum was the Big Ten and NCAA champion at 1500 meters, capping his standout season with his first national title last Friday at Hayward Field. Birnbaum's standout season also included a collegiate record in the 1500 meters with his 3:31.69 performance at the Oregon Team Invitational in April. The Rapid City, S.D., native added personal bests of 1:44.67 and 13:19.73 over 800 and 3,000 meters, and was the only man in the country ranked among the top 10 in all three events this outdoor season.
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McCormick successfully defended her NCAA title in the 100-meter hurdles to go along with a Big Ten title in the event to start the outdoor postseason. She is the first woman to win back-to-back national titles in the 100-meter hurdles since 2008. At the NCAA West First Round, McCormick took down the Oregon school and Big Ten records with her 12.44 performance (May 30). With that time, she moved into seventh place on the all-time collegiate list.
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Smith became the Ducks' third-ever NCAA champion in the shot put and first since 1982, joining past Oregon greats Neal Steinhauer and Dean Crouser on that exclusive list. Smith also registered a best of 21.04m/69-0.5 to win the national title as the only collegian over 21 meters this outdoor season. The Fremont, Wis., native surpassed 20 meters in his last seven shot put competitions of the year dating back to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Smith finished third in the discus at the Big Ten meet.
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2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Awards
MEN
Track Athlete of the Year: Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon
Field Athlete of the Year: Angelos Mantzouranis, Minnesota
Freshman of the Year: Ben Smith, Oregon
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WOMEN
Track Athlete of the Year: Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon
Field Athlete of the Year: Amanda Moll, Washington
Freshman of the Year: JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, Illinois
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The UO men and women swept the USTFCCCA Program of the Year awards as announced Tuesday. The Ducks were recognized for their collective team finishes at the NCAA cross country, indoor and outdoor meets.
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For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
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Birnbaum was the Big Ten and NCAA champion at 1500 meters, capping his standout season with his first national title last Friday at Hayward Field. Birnbaum's standout season also included a collegiate record in the 1500 meters with his 3:31.69 performance at the Oregon Team Invitational in April. The Rapid City, S.D., native added personal bests of 1:44.67 and 13:19.73 over 800 and 3,000 meters, and was the only man in the country ranked among the top 10 in all three events this outdoor season.
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McCormick successfully defended her NCAA title in the 100-meter hurdles to go along with a Big Ten title in the event to start the outdoor postseason. She is the first woman to win back-to-back national titles in the 100-meter hurdles since 2008. At the NCAA West First Round, McCormick took down the Oregon school and Big Ten records with her 12.44 performance (May 30). With that time, she moved into seventh place on the all-time collegiate list.
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Smith became the Ducks' third-ever NCAA champion in the shot put and first since 1982, joining past Oregon greats Neal Steinhauer and Dean Crouser on that exclusive list. Smith also registered a best of 21.04m/69-0.5 to win the national title as the only collegian over 21 meters this outdoor season. The Fremont, Wis., native surpassed 20 meters in his last seven shot put competitions of the year dating back to the NCAA Indoor Championships. Smith finished third in the discus at the Big Ten meet.
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2026 Big Ten Outdoor Track and Field Awards
MEN
Track Athlete of the Year: Simeon Birnbaum, Oregon
Field Athlete of the Year: Angelos Mantzouranis, Minnesota
Freshman of the Year: Ben Smith, Oregon
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WOMEN
Track Athlete of the Year: Aaliyah McCormick, Oregon
Field Athlete of the Year: Amanda Moll, Washington
Freshman of the Year: JaiCieonna Gero-Holt, Illinois
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The UO men and women swept the USTFCCCA Program of the Year awards as announced Tuesday. The Ducks were recognized for their collective team finishes at the NCAA cross country, indoor and outdoor meets.
Â
For more news and information about Oregon cross country and track and field, follow @OregonTF on Facebook, Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Track and Field
Sprints/Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldFriday, May 01
Tuesday, April 14
Wednesday, January 14
Tuesday, January 13
