FRESNO, Calif. – Following another eventful and successful season, Fresno Pacific track and field swept three of the PacWest conference's special awards as Shemar Palmer, Tevž Podlipnik, and Head Coach Robert Foster were recognized for their remarkable achievements during the 2026 outdoor season. Palmer and Foster also earned two of the USTFCCCA West-Region's highest honors.

Palmer was named both the PacWest and West Region Track Athlete of the Year after establishing himself as one of the premier sprinters in NCAA Division II. The senior standout delivered a historic campaign that culminated in First Team All-America honors in both the 200m and 400m. Palmer finished as the national runner-up in both events at the NCAA Division II Championships, including a school-record performance in the 400m.

Throughout the season, Palmer consistently dominated the competition. He captured PacWest Championships in both the 200m and 400m and was named the PacWest Most Outstanding Athlete of the Meet. His excellence across multiple sprint events also earned him USTFCCCA All-West Region honors in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 4x100 relay, highlighting his versatility and impact on the Sunbirds' success.

Joining Palmer among the conference's top performers was freshman thrower Tevž Podlipnik, who was named the PacWest Freshman Field Athlete of the Year after an exceptional debut season in the javelin. Podlipnik quickly emerged as one of the nation's elite throwers, spending much of the season ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II. Earlier in the season, earned PacWest Field Athlete of the Week recognition after recording a 72.05-meter mark that vaulted him to the top of the national rankings, then he later captured the PacWest Championship title with a throw of 68.05 meters. He capped off his breakout year with a national runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships, launching a personal-best throw of 72.09 meters to earn First Team All-America honors.

At the helm of the program's success was head coach Robert Foster, who earned both PacWest and West Region Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year honors yet again in his career. Under Foster's leadership, the Sunbirds continued their rise as one of the division's most competitive and determined programs. FPU's men's team secured their second consecutive PacWest Championship, while the women's squad delivered an impressive third-place finish at the conference meet. Foster guided the 'Birds to 16 individual conference titles, 21 USTFCCCA All-Region honors, seven All-America performances, and 14 NCAA Championship qualifiers. The Sunbirds' success carried onto the national stage, where the Blue and Orange produced podium finishes in the 200m, 400m, javelin, 400m hurdles, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay, and high jump.

The combination of conference dominance, national success, and individual excellence made 2026 a season to remember for Fresno Pacific track and field.
 

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