STANDISH, Maine – The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced its 2025-26 Men's Indoor Track & Field major award winners on Wednesday, and Saint Joseph's College of Maine was heavily represented as Abdirizak Abukar was voted Indoor Track Athlete of the Year, Stephen Pierre collected Rookie of the Year honors, and the Monks' coaching staff was selected as the league's Coaching Staff of the Year.

The awards recognize performance throughout the indoor season, including the 2026 GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, and were selected by a vote of the league's six indoor track & field head coaches.

A senior from Lewiston, Maine, Abukar delivered another standout indoor campaign for the Monks and rose to the top at the GNAC Championships, posting GNAC-leading marks in both the 200 meters (22.34) and 400 meters (50.19)—each a New England Division III Provisional standard—on his way to being named the conference's top track athlete. Abukar also finished the year No. 1 in the GNAC in the 200 (22.20) and No. 1 in the 400 (50.19), while adding a top-10 league time in the 60 meters (7.30). Already the program record holder in the 60 meters (7.10) and 200 meters (22.02), Abukar continued to set the standard for Saint Joseph's sprint group throughout the season.

Pierre, a freshman from Turner, Maine, earned Rookie of the Year after a breakout season highlighted by championship-level versatility and week-to-week dominance. A four-time GNAC Rookie of the Week and three-time GNAC Field Athlete of the Week, Pierre ended the season as the GNAC leader in both the high jump (1.92m) and long jump (6.92m), while also ranking No. 1 in the 60-meter hurdles (8.53). At the GNAC Championships, Pierre finished second in the high jump (1.90m) and second in the long jump (6.86m) while also winning the 60-meter hurdles (8.55). Pierre holds Saint Joseph's indoor school records in the 60 hurdles (8.55) and long jump (6.92m), and his long jump also met a New England Division III Automatic standard.

Pierre's rookie season included another marquee performance at the Maine State Indoor Championships, where he won the high jump (1.92m / 6' 3.5") and placed second in the long jump (6.79m / 22' 3.5"), both New England Division III qualifying marks. On the track, Pierre ran 8.53 in the 60-meter hurdles prelims to hit the New England Division III provisional standard and break the Saint Joseph's school record before turning his focus to the jumps. His overall day earned him the Peter M. Goodrich Men's Field MVP Award, marking the first time a Saint Joseph's student-athlete has won the honor since it was established in 2003.

Saint Joseph's major award haul came during a season that also featured multiple league leaders and top performers across event groups. Haytham Ramadan finished No. 1 in the GNAC in the 800 meters (1:52.63), while Isaac Keresey ranked No. 1 in the GNAC in both the 1000 meters (2:39.09) and the mile (4:28.39). In the distance events, Jacob Pelletier closed the year as the GNAC leader in both the 3000 meters (8:55.63) and 5000 meters (15:34.65), with Alexey Seredin adding a league runner-up mark in the 5000 (16:21.72). In combined events, Keresey also topped the conference in the heptathlon (3508) with Dalton Feeney close behind at 3426.

In addition to the major award winners, the GNAC also announced its All-Conference performers—top-three finishers in each event at the 2026 GNAC Indoor Championships—as well as the conference's All-Sportsmanship Team.

GNAC Major Award Winners (Saint Joseph's)
Men's Track Athlete of the Year: Abdirizak Abuka
Men's Rookie of the Year: Stephen Pierre
Men's Coaching Staff of the Year: Saint Joseph's College of Maine

GNAC All-Conference 
Sprints
200m: 1st – Abdirizak Abukar
400m: 1st – Abdirizak Abukar … 2nd – Jacob Schmader

Middle Distance / Distance
800m: 1st – Haytham Ramadan … 2nd – Isaac Keresey
Mile: 1st – Haytham Ramadan … 2nd – Isaac Keresey
3000m: 1st – Jacob Pelletier … 2nd – Alexey Seredin … 3rd – Isaac Keresey
5000m: 1st – Jacob Pelletier … 2nd – Alexey Seredin

Hurdles
60H: 1st – Stephen Pierre … 2nd – Tudum Monday … 3rd – John Read

Relays
4x400: 1st – Saint Joseph's (Noah Batoosingh, Aidan Mills, Dalton Feeney, Abdirizak Abukar)
DMR: 1st – Saint Joseph's (Haytham Ramadan, Emilson Zoccolo, Alexey Seredin, Isaac Keresey)

Jumps / Vault
High Jump: 2nd – Stephen Pierre … 3rd – Junior Antonio
Pole Vault: 2nd – Isaac Keresey
Long Jump: 2nd – Stephen Pierre
Triple Jump: 3rd – Tudum Monday

GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team
Harrison Fields – Saint Joseph's College of Maine

To cap a record-setting indoor season, Saint Joseph's set seven new men's indoor school records—Stephen Pierre (60H, LJ), Haytham Ramadan (800), Isaac Keresey (PV), and Jacob Pelletier (3000m, 5000m)—while also piling up 18 All-Conference honors across 12 events at the GNAC Championships. With multiple GNAC event leaders from sprints through distance and into the jumps, the Monks closed the winter with both top-end star power and championship-level depth heading into the outdoor season.