The 2023 Liberty League Men's Outdoor Track & Field major awards as voted by the conference's head coaches following NCAA Championships—
Track Athlete of the Year: Matt Lecky, Senior, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior Matt Lecky was named the Liberty League Track Athlete of the Year for the third time in his career and the first time following the outdoor season. At the NCAA Championship, he earned all-America for the sixth time in his career, crossing the finish line in the 1,500-meter run with a facility-record time of 3:46.22, good for third. He also competed in the 5,000-meter run, finishing in 20th during the prelims with a time of 15.22.96. This season Lecky posted a school record, league record, and No. 10 all-time in Division III in the 1,500 at the Widener Final Qualifier (3:44.23). He won the 1,500 meters at the 2023 Liberty League Championship with a meet-record time of 3:48.98 and was third in the 800-meters (1:54.85). The three-time Liberty League Track Performer of the Week also posted a career personal best with a school record and league record 14:07.10 in the 5,000 at the Penn Relays in April.
Co-Field Athlete of the Year: Cole Goodman, Sophomore, University of Rochester
University of Rochester sophomore Cole Goodman was recognized with Liberty League Field Co-Athlete of the Year honors following the 2023 spring season. He was a two-time All-America honoree this spring following this year's NCAA Outdoor Championship. He finished third in the long jump (7.34) and fifth in the triple jump (15.24), both of which were school-record distances. Goodman was named Liberty League Co-Performer of the Meet at the 2023 championship as a two-time individual champion with top marks in the long jump and triple jump at 7.34 meters and 15.25 meters respectively.
Co-Field Athlete of the Year: Dom Mikula, Senior Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior Dom Mikula was recognized with Liberty League Field Co-Athlete of the Year honors following the 2023 outdoor campaign. Mikula ended the spring season on a high note as the National Champion in the pole vault at a facility-record 5.05 meters. It is the first time in his career he was crowned national champion in the event, but it is his seventh All-America accolade for pole vault. He was also the top pole vaulter at the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Championship with a leap of 5.08 meters and he was fourth at the Liberty League Championship (4.58).
Rookie of the Year: Nick Lyndaker, St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence University Nick Lyndaker was selected as the Liberty League Outdoor Rookie of the Year in Men's Outdoor Track & Field. He posted a pair of podium finishes at the 2023 Liberty League Championship, placing fourth in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:54.01 and finishing sixth in the 5,000 meters, clocking just under 15 minutes with a season-best time of 14:49.55. He won the 1,500 at the Rochester
Alumni Invitational (3:59.27) and posted a personal-best time of 3:52.40 (14th) at the Widener Final Qualifier. At the All-Atlantic Regional Championship, he was fourth in the 1,500 (3:54.00). Lyndaker was also recognized as the Liberty League Indoor Men's Track & Field Rookie of the Year earlier this year.
Coaching Staff of the Year: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Head Coach Colin Tory; Assistant Coaches John Lynch, Rick Choppa, Warren Lutes, and Darren Wan
RPI head coach Colin Tory and his staff were recognized as the Liberty League Outdoor Coaching Staff of the Year. The Engineers claimed their first Liberty League outdoor title since the spring of 2021, defeating runner-up, host, and defending champion Rochester by nine points. RPI had six individual champions and the squad dominated the distance events with four of the top-eight finishers in the 5,000 meters, including first through third, and three among the top-eight in the 1,500-meter run (1st, 3rd, 7th). RPI had five individuals qualify for NCAAs and three earn All-America honors for finishing among the top eight in their respective events. Lecky was third in the 1,500 meters (3:46.22), junior Cory Kennedy was sixth in the 5,000 meters with a time of 14:22.64, and junior James Zeolla tied for fourth in the pole vault at 4.75 meters. As a team, RPI finished among the top-25 with 11.5 points, good for 22nd.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
100 – Andy Frank, Ithaca, 10.80
200 – Justin Jantzi, RIT, 21.55*
400 – Justin Jantzi, RIT, 48.21*
800 – Scott Sikorski, Rochester, 1:52.16*
1,500 – Matt Lecky, RPI, 3:48.98
5,000 – Cory Kennedy, RPI, 14:40.54
10,000 – Vince Simonetti, RPI, 30:00.44*
110-hurdles – Peter Brodnik, Rochester, 14.99
400-hurdles – Nate Oczkowski, Ithaca, 53.51
3,000 steeplechase – Patrick Smyth, RPI, 9:27.20
4x100 Relay – Rochester (Jain, Lienert, London, Eribo), 42.31
4x400 Relay – RIT (Senf, Wilson, Goyette, Jantzi), 3:15.21*
High Jump – Tyler Hulse, RIT, 2.00m
Pole Vault – James Zeolla, RPI, 4.88m*
Long Jump – Cole Goodman, Rochester, 7.34m
Triple Jump – Cole Goodman, Rochester, 15.25m*
Shot Put – Matthew Funicelli, RIT, 15.98m
Discus – Josh Cohen, RPI, 50.29m
Hammer Throw – Josh Cohen, RPI, 55.97m
Javelin – Jordan Johnson, Rochester, 57.49m
Decathlon – Alex Opsahl, Rochester, 6534 points*
* = Liberty League Championship record
First Team = Event Champions at 2023 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Second Team = Second Place at 2023 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Honorable Mention = Third Place at 2023 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship