The 2024 Liberty League Women's Outdoor Track & Field major award recipients as voted by the conference's head coaches following NCAA Championships.
Track Athlete of the Year: Haley Schoenegge, First-Year, Vassar College
Vassar College first-year Haley Schoenegge was named the Liberty League Track Athlete of the Year following the 2024 outdoor season. She wrapped up a strong rookie campaign for the Brewers with an outstanding spring and outdoor season. Schoenegge, the Co-Rookie of the Year in both 2023 Liberty League Women's Cross Country as well as 2023-24 Liberty League Indoor Track & Field ended the year with a trip to the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, where she competed in two events. She was the national champion in the 1,500 meters with a facility record time of 4:19.46, which is also the ninth fastest time in the event in Division III Outdoor Championship history. Schoenegge led wire-to-wire in the event with a margin of victory of 10 seconds for Vassar's first national champion since 2015. She also garnered All-America first-team honors with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters at 16:55.41. She jumped from seventh to fourth in the final lap (1:12.81). At the Liberty League Championship, she was recognized as the Most Outstanding Performer at the meet by winning the 1,500 meters (4:28.96) and 5,000 meters (17:02.02). Both victories were also Liberty League Championship record times. She also garnered United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Mideast Region Track Athlete of the Year accolades. She currently holds the school record in both the 1,500 and 5,000 meters as well as the Liberty League's association record in the 1,500.
Field Athlete of the Year: Madeline O'Connell, Senior, University of Rochester
University of Rochester senior Madeline O'Connell was recognized with Field Athlete of the Year honors. O'Connell capped off her career with the Yellowjackets with three more All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship. She finished fourth in the pole vault with a leap of 3.86 meters. O'Connell also earned All-America honors as part of Rochester's 4x400 relay along with teammates Megan Bell, Nora Chen, and Kate Isaac, who combined for 3:45.40, good for third. She was also among the top 12 in the 400 meters (12th) with a time of 56.27 seasons. Since 2022, O'Connell earned All-America accolades six times in Outdoor Track & Field. At this year's conference championship, the five-time Liberty League Field Performer of the Week earned gold in the pole vault at 3.81 meters and the 4x100-meter relay (47.98). She also captured silver in the 200 meters (24.59) and 400 meters (55.29). She helped the squad to their third consecutive Liberty League Outdoor title. O'Connell's season-best marks of the year included the league's top height in the pole vault (4.07m, #1 NCAA) as well as the top times in the 400 meters (54.80, #2 NCAA), 4x400-meter relay (3:45.40, #5 NCAA), and 4x100-meter relay (47.98). She was also recognized as the Niagara Region Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.
Rookie of the Year: Nora Chen, University of Rochester
University of Rochester first-year Nora Chen was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year following the 2024 outdoor campaign. She closed out her first year at Rochester with a pair of top-10 finishes and All-America honors at the 2024 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She was ninth in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:02.06, earning second-team All-America. Chen was also part of Rochester's 4x400-meter relay squad along with teammates Megan Bell, Madeline O'Connell, and Kate Isaac, who finished third at 3:45.40, garnering first-team All-America accolades. The four-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection, won the 400-meter hurdles at the Liberty League Championship, clocking a time of 1:01.86. She was also fourth in the 4x400-meter relay (4:03.19) and tenth in the 100-meter dash (12.99) preliminaries as Rochester earned their third straight Liberty League Outdoor title.
Coaching Staff of the Year: University of Rochester – Sam Albert, Head Coach; Assistant Coaches Jay Petsch, Laura Broderick, Paul Rose, and Ross Hunkovic
University of Rochester head coach Sam Albert and his staff were recognized as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. The Yellowjackets earned their third consecutive Liberty League outdoor women's track and field title this season. Rochester easily claimed the 2024 title winning by 34 points at the two-day meet, thanks to nine individual victories and a winning relay team (4x100). In total, the Yellowjackets had All-League honorees in 15 events among 13 athletes. Seven individuals earned 20 USTFCCCA All-Region accolades and six women were selected to compete at the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Albert and O'Connell were recognized as USTFCCCA major award winners for the Niagara region, with Regional Coach of the Year and Regional Field Athlete of the Year honors, respectively. At NCAAs, nine earned All-America honors with three garnering multiple accolades—O'Connell (three), Megan Bell (two), and Nora Chen (two). The 4x400-meter relay was the team's top finisher in third (3:45.40). O'Connell (4th, pole vault – 3.86m) and Bell (4th, 800 meters – 2:09.03) both finished among the top four in their events. As a team, Rochester tied for 11th as the squad compiled 16 points over the three-day championship.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM
100 – Ashley Heffernan, Rochester, 12.08*
200 – Sadie Rose, RIT, 24.14
400 – Sadie Rose, RIT, 55.07*
800 – Megan Bell, Rochester, 2:16.07
1,500 – Haley Schoenegge, Vassar, 4:28.96*
5,000 – Haley Schoenegge, Vassar, 17:02.02*
10,000 – Sennett Turner, Rochester, 37:13.45
100-hurdles – Ashley Heffernan, 14.53
400-hurdles – Nora Chen, Rochester, 1:01.86*
3,000 steeplechase – Allison Malatesta, Union, 11:18.39
4x100 Relay – Rochester (Kyriacou, Hoogs, Heffernan, O'Connell), 47.98
4x400 Relay – RIT (Ameele, Burgard, Crisci, Hill), 3:57.90
High Jump – Lydia Barber, Ithaca, 1.59m
Pole Vault – Madeline O'Connell, 3.81m
Long Jump – Ashley Heffernan, 5.89m*
Triple Jump – Jahmilia Dennis, Vassar, 11.65m
Shot Put – Deziree Garrick, Rochester, 12.53m
Discus – Emily DiMarco, RIT, 40.72m
Hammer Throw – Lily Seyfert, Ithaca, 47.58m
Javelin – Aimee Oszer, Rochester, 38.09m
Heptathlon – Madeleine Wright, Ithaca, 3846 points
* = Liberty League Championship record
First Team = Event Champions at 2024 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Second Team = Second Place at 2024 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Honorable Mention = Third Place at 2024 Liberty League Outdoor Track & Field Championship