Leitner Named America East Woman of the Year

6/2/2026 9:58:00 PM | By: David O’Brian (dobrian@binghamton.edu)

Recent track/xc graduate honored for all-around accomplishments

MYSTIC, Conn. – Sydney Leitner, who concluded her standout running career at Binghamton this past semester, has been named the 2025-26 America East Woman of the Year. The announcement was made on Tuesday evening by the conference office at their annual awards dinner at the Mystic Marriott Hotel & Spa.

The America East Man and Women of the Year Awards are presented annually to a graduating male and female senior student-athlete who has best distinguished himself and herself throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence, service and leadership.

Leitner is the first Binghamton female athlete to be named the America East's Woman of the Year. There have been two previous Bearcat male athletes to be named the America East Man of the Year (Joe Miceli in 2017 and Jake Restivo in 2023).

"This award is such an immense honor as it reflects years of growth, sacrifice, and passion," Leitner said. "To be the America East Woman of the Year recognizes more than my accomplishments as an athlete, but those as a student and a rounded personality as well. I'm fortunate to accept this accolade of the America East, and I'm proud to have such a positive reflection on my career at Binghamton University."

Joining Leitner at the awards dinner on Tuesday night were Binghamton Director of Athletics, Gene Marshall, as well as her college track and cross country coach Annette Acuff.

"We are very happy for Sydney," Marshall said. "She has represented Binghamton well in every way during her career. Sydney has a bright future ahead of her and we wish her the best."

"We are all incredibly proud of Sydney and all of her accomplishments while at Binghamton," Acuff said. "She has worked tirelessly as a student-athlete and has significantly impacted our programs and department with her leadership. If there was an extra hour in the day, Sydney would find a way to best utilize that time and make an impact. It's been an honor to coach her and I've truly enjoyed watching her grow and develop into the person and leader she is today."

Leitner helped lead Binghamton to the 2023 women's cross country championships and runner-up finishes at a pair of conference outdoor meets (2023 & 2024) as well as the 2024 indoor meet. She is one of only 10 women's cross country runners in America East history to be named first-team all-conference four times during her career. Leitner also earned all-conference honors in the 10,000 at the 2023 America East Outdoor Championships.

In the classroom, Leitner has been named to the America East Cross Country All-Academic team twice during her career (2023 & 2025). In addition, she has been named the State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor's Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year in both 2024 and 2025. In April 2025, Leitner was inducted into the National College Athlete Honor Society. She graduated last month with a degree in nursing and maintained a 3.64 cumulative GPA.

Leitner was part of Binghamton's Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) throughout her career. She was part of the SAAC E-Board during the past two academic years.

Starting in her sophomore year, Leitner worked 6-8 hours per week in the Binghamton Sports Medicine Department. In 2024, she was the recipient of the Orthopedic Associates Scholarship Award.

At the Binghamton University Athletic Awards Banquet on May 4, Leitner was presented with the Jesse Godfrey Award. This honor is given each year to a graduating female student-athlete for their accomplishments in athletics, academics and within the community.

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Recent track/xc graduate honored for all-around accomplishments

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