LOCK HAVEN, Pa.- The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) released its women's outdoor track and field major award winners on Thursday afternoon, and freshman
Cassie Nugin (Camp Hill, Pa./Cedar Cliff) was named the Freshman of the Year in recognition of her historic 2025-26 rookie season.
Nugin is the first member of the West Chester women's track and field program to win a PSAC Outdoor Track and Field Major Award and she is just the third Golden Ram across the men's and women's programs to be recognized as she follows Ralph Casper, who was named Field Athlete of the Year in 2023, and Jarrett Easton, who was the Rookie of the Year in 2008. The Golden Rams women's track and field program had the PSAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Year in 2007-08, when Danielle Scardino was honored, and the Indoor Field Athlete of the Year in 2019-20, when Caroline Lewis claimed the honor.
After winning her first conference title in the 800 at the PSAC Indoor Championships in late February, Nugin added two more conference crowns to her resume in the Spring season as she won both 800 and 1500 at the PSAC Outdoor Championships in 2:15.60 and 4:39.86, respectively. This effort helped lead West Chester to a second-place team finish at the Outdoor Championships, the Golden Rams top finish at the PSAC Outdoor Championships since 1986.
Nugin's top 800 time of the Spring came at Bucknell in early April when she crossed the line in 2:12.95, which is the third fastest time in program history, while her top-1500 time of the season, 4:39.32, came at Widener earlier in the Spring and is the ninth fastest in team history.
Loreena Manser of California earned Track Athlete of the Year honors, while Shannon Harnett of East Stroudsburg was named the Field Athlete of the Year. Slippery Rock earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
