University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Honored by USTFCCCA
6/19/2026 7:21:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
STORRS, CT - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their Regional Athletes and Coaches of the Year awards with UConn Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Beth Alford-Sullivan along with Josh Mooney and Maresa Hense taking home honors.
Josh Mooney – Men's Field Athlete of the Year
Junior Josh Mooney capped an exceptional 2026 outdoor season by earning First Team All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, finishing eighth in the decathlon with 7,869 points — improving on his 12th-place finish from a year ago. He becomes the first Husky to garner first team All-American honors since the 2016 outdoor season. Earlier in the season, Mooney posted a school record 8,033 points in the decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays, a rare 8,000-point performance that ranked him second in the nation heading into the NCAA Championship. At the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, hosted on UConn's home track, Mooney was the dominant force in the field, winning the pole vault and the 110m hurdles while taking second in the javelin. His 28-point total earned him both the BIG EAST Most Outstanding Field Performer and BIG EAST Outdoor High Point Performer honors. A versatile and elite multi-event competitor, Mooney has established himself as one of the premier field athletes in the conference and the country, and is a most deserving recipient of this award.
Maresa Hense – Women's Field Athlete of the Year
Sophomore Maresa Hense capped a remarkable 2026 outdoor season by earning Second Team All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, finishing 10th in the heptathlon with a new personal best of 5,872 points — surpassing her own UConn school record of 5,816 set at the Mt. SAC Relays earlier in the season and improving on her 15th-place finish from a year ago. Hense entered the NCAA Championship ranked 10th in the nation and delivered her strongest performance when it mattered most, closing the meet with a first-place finish in the 800m and setting personal bests in the high jump, shot put, and long jump. At the BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, Hense scored in three events — the 200m, 100m hurdles, and long jump — contributing to UConn's dominant team title. A two-time outdoor All-American who also earned Second Team honors at the 2026 NCAA Indoor Championships, Hense has established herself as one of the premier multi-event athletes in the conference and is a most deserving recipient of this award.
Beth Alford- Sullivan - Men's Head Coach of the Year
In her four seasons leading the UConn men's track and field program, Alford-Sullivan has built one of the most dominant programs in the conference, winning eight consecutive BIG EAST championships — four indoor and four outdoor — including the program's fourth straight outdoor title in 2026 and a record-setting sixth consecutive BIG EAST men's outdoor crown overall. This year's senior class graduated undefeated in conference competition, having won every BIG EAST indoor and outdoor championship during their UConn careers. At the 2026 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, Alford-Sullivan's squad scored in 18 of 22 events, producing six individual event champions in the 100m, 4x100m relay, 110m hurdles, decathlon, javelin, shot put, and pole vault, and outscored the nine-team field by a margin of nearly 140 points. The program closed the outdoor season with a USTFCCCA top-three national ranking in the decathlon event group and a top-four ranking in the javelin group. Junior Josh Mooney set a UConn school record of 8,033 points in the decathlon at the Mt. SAC Relays, entered the NCAA Championship ranked second in the nation, and went on to earn BIG EAST Most Outstanding Field Performer honors and First Team All-American status. Teammate Medwin Odamtten earned BIG EAST Track Athlete of the Year. Mooney's eighth-place finish at the NCAA Championships also scored a team point, helping UConn finish in the top 65 nationally — the program's best team finish at the NCAA Championships in more than a decade. Alford-Sullivan's sustained excellence, depth of development, and championship culture make her a most deserving recipient of this award.
Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2026 NCAA DI Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
