Women's Track & Field 5/27/2026 3:00:00 PM

Four Norse earn Outdoor #HLTF All-Academic Honors

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Northern Kentucky University Norse track & field saw four representatives in the Horizon League's All-Academic Team, announced by the league on Wednesday. Colton O'Hara, Cameron Bittermann, Sierra Kendall, and Olivia Kennedy all earned the distinction for the 2026 outdoor campaign.

"These four student-athletes represent the gold standard for our program, excelling as both competitors and students," said Norse Associate Head Coach Paul Longano.

It marked the seventh overall All-Academic selection for O'Hara and fifth to a team, as he was previously named to the 2025 & 2026 indoor All-Academic teams, the 2025 outdoor All-Academic team, the 2025 cross country All-Academic teams, and an honorable mention on the 2023 & 2024 cross country lists. The Northern Kentucky senior capped a storied career in the 2026 outdoor campaign with the best 5000-meter and 10,000-meter times in the Horizon League. O'Hara ran a 14:06.71 in the 5K race at the Wake Forest Invitational and a 29:48.77 in the 10K race at the Raleigh Relays. In the classroom, O'Hara graduated with a Bachelor's in Information Systems and Business Analytics this spring, earning a spot on the dean's list on six occasions and the president's honors list once. He will begin his career at TQL as an Accounting Operations Analyst.

Cameron Bittermann earned her first-ever selection to a Horizon League All-Academic team, as she previously was an honorable mention in the 2026 indoor season. The two-time Horizon League Outdoor Championship Outstanding running performer again captured individual titles in the 200m and 400m races at the 2026 championships, doing so for the second straight year, while also anchoring NKU's champion 4x400m relay squad at the race. She finished with the fastest overall times in both the 200m and 400m runs in the Horizon League. Bittermann graduated with a Bachelor's in Nursing this spring, and will begin her career as a nurse at Cincinnati Children's Hospital.

Sierra Kendall became a two-time Horizon League Champion this spring, winning the 400-meter hurdles title in a minute flat, and also competing in NKU's winning 4x400-meter relay squad that took gold at the 2026 Horizon League Outdoor Championships. Kendall finished with the second-best overall time in the 400-meter hurdles in the league, breaking the minute mark with a time of 59.67 at this year's Nikoloff Invitational. Kendall graduated with a Bachelor's in Radiation Therapy this spring after making seven appearances on the Dean's List during her time at NKU. Kendall will work in radiation/oncology at Christ Hospital.

Olivia Kennedy capped her stellar senior campaign with her sixth Horizon League All-Academic selection, earning the distinction in every season she was eligible. Kennedy made her mark on the 2026 Horizon League Outdoor Championships again, running in NKU's champion 4x400-meter relay squad and finishing second overall in the 800m race. Kennedy's time of 2:10.53 at the Wake Forest Invitational stands as the second-fastest in the league. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Biological Sciences this spring after earning a spot on the President's Honor's list on six occasions while at Northern Kentucky. Kennedy is set to enter medical school to study dermatology.

View the full list of #HLTF Outdoor All-Academic teams below.

2026 Valeo Men's Outdoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Luke Adamczyk, Detroit Mercy
Joshua Neary, Detroit Mercy
Joshua Otten, Detroit Mercy
Nolan King, IU Indianapolis
Luke Shappell, IU Indianapolis
Karsten Grundahl, Milwaukee
Zac Schmidt, Milwaukee
Sam Schreiber, Milwaukee
Colton O'Hara, Northern Kentucky
Tyler Donovan, Oakland
Carter McCalister, Oakland
Colten Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Patrick Statzer, Wright State
Michael Ballone, Youngstown State
Blaze Fichter, Youngstown State
Jaden Kirkwood, Youngtown State
Lukas Lang, Youngstown State
Connor Shingleton, Youngstown State
Trenton Shutters, Youngstown State

Men's Outdoor Track Honorable Mentions
Anthony Buford, Milwaukee
Josh Cygan, Milwaukee
Tim Maidment, Milwaukee
Pierce Grzymkowski, Oakland
Josiah Bird, Purdue Fort Wayne
Colin Gasson, Purdue Fort Wayne
Noah Morris, Purdue Fort Wayne

2026 Valeo Women's Outdoor #HLTF All-Academic Team
Grace Steffes, Detroit Mercy
Isabel Roloff, Milwaukee
Anna Szepieniec, Milwaukee
Olivia VanZeeland, Milwaukee
Kallie Volk, Milwaukee
Cameron Bittermann, Northern Kentucky
Sierra Kendall, Northern Kentucky
Olivia Kennedy, Northern Kentucky
Kylei Anderson, Oakland
Jamie Giese, Oakland
Victoria Sanders, Oakland
Ava Genovese, Purdue Fort Wayne
Bella Hodges, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ali Sparks, Purdue Fort Wayne
Riley Tate, Purdue Fort Wayne
Julia Dill, RMU
Sydney Thompson, Wright State
McKinley Fielding, Youngstown State
Ainsley Hamsher, Youngstown State
Caleigh Richards, Youngstown State

Women's Outdoor Track Honorable Mentions
Katie Burns, Milwaukee
Makenna Scott, Oakland
Francesca Carlo, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ellie Zagel, Purdue Fort Wayne
Maizee Fry, RMU
Lexus Solarz, Youngstown State

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