Miami Gardens, Fla. - On the heels of a transcendent showing at the 2026 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor National Championships, St. Thomas University's Nicholas Altheimer has been named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA Track Athlete of the Year.

Going up against the best that the NAIA has to offer at the Outdoor Championships, Altheimer won the Individual National Title in the 100 and 200 meter races before contributing to a fifth-place effort in the 4x400 Relay alongside teammates Avian Edwards, Elijah Smith and Jalen Tanner. Earning the most individual points at the event, Altheimer was crowned the Most Valuable Performer at the meet.
It is the first Player of the Year award for the program.

The Men's Track and Field team concluded its 2025-26 campaign that saw the Bobcats win the Sun Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships with a third-place finish at the NAIA Championship.