USTFCCCA National Awards

NEW ORLEANS - National champion Emily LaMena has added yet another major award to her 2026 season, being named the USTFCCCA's National Track Athlete of the Year for NCAA Division II.

It's the latest in a number of postseason accolades for the redshirt sophomore that has included USTFCCCA South Central Track Athlete of the Year, RMAC Co-Track Athlete of the Year, and RMAC Academic Athlete of the Year. LaMena won the NCAA D-II championship in the 3,000m steeplechase in late May, and one day later added the silver medal in the 5,000m run behind teammate Grace Strongman. LaMena dominated the steeplechase in both the prelims and final, winning by almost 18 seconds with the #10 time in D-II history and new Mines record of 9:58.38. 

LaMena's 18 team points helped Mines to finish a best-ever third at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, and she was the second-highest pointscorer at the meet. A three-season all-American in 2025-26, LaMena also finished seventh nationally at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships, and was in the indoor 5,000m bronze medalist in March. 

She is the first Oredigger to earn a National Athlete of the Year award for the outdoor season; Dillon Powell (2022 cross country) and Connor McLean (2020 indoor field) are Mines' other two previous winners.