Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards
2018 Donald J. Paige Award
Semifinalist Watch List
Released on June 23, 2018
Rochester, NY: The 2018 Semifinalist Watch List for the Donald J. Paige Award (College Male Athlete of the Year - Division 1 Schools) is presented below. Six of the athletes (Affolder, Bennie, Germano, Goss, Knight, Moore, and Tooker) on this watch list competed at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that were held in Eugene, Oregon from June 6 - 9, 2018. Three (Goss, Knight, and Moore) competed in the 2018 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships that were held in College Station, Texas (Texas A&M University) from March 9 to 10, 2018. There is one two-time national champion (Knight - Cross Country and indoor 5000 meter run), two First Team All-Americans (Knight (4 times), Tooker), three Second Team All-Americans (Affolder, Bennie, Germano), and three Honorable Mention All-Americans (Moore twice and Goss). The other three athletes on this watch list and all on the Also Considered list competed at their respective 2018 NCAA Regional Championship meet.
The members of 10 person watch list come from four colleges and universities. The seven athletes on the Also Considered list come from six schools. Between the two lists, eight colleges and universities are represented.
Syracuse University has seven athletes on this watch list. Binghamton University, the University at Buffalo, and Western Kentucky University each has one athlete on this watch list. The University at Buffalo has two athletes on the also considered list while the Columbia University, Indiana University, Syracuse University, the University at Albany, and the University of Pennsylvania each have one athlete on the also considered list.
This version of the watch list reflects the performances up through 10 June 2018 and takes into account the 2018 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championship results. This is the final watch list of the year.
Nominations are accepted from any interested individual or group. Use our nomination form to submit any nomination(s). The nomination form is linked below.
The list of finalists for each of the annual awards will be announced in July.
The winner of all eight of Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame annual awards are selected by the same panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians.
The 2018 Annual Awards winners will be announced in late August or early September 2018.
Nomination Form
Download and save the nomination form to your computer. This is a PDF file.
The form can be competed using Adobe Reader. Type the requested information into the form and save the file to your computer. Then, e-mail the form to
Watch List
| Name | Grade | School | Hometown | Event |
| Noah Affolder | FR | Syracuse University | Victor, NY / Victor HS | Steeplechase |
| Colin Bennie | JR | Syracuse University | Princeton, MA / Wachusett HS | Distance |
| Jack Fitzgerald | SO | Binghamton University | Ballston Spa, NY / Ballston Spa HS | High Jump |
| Philo Germano | SR | Syracuse University | Albany, NY / Albany HS | Distance |
| Angelo Goss | SR | Syracuse University | Jupiter, FL / Alabama HS | Hurdles |
| Justyn Knight | JR | Syracuse University | Vaughan, ON / St. Michael's HS | Distance |
| Desmond Mobley | SR | Western Kentucky University | Rochester, NY / Greece Olympia HS | Jumps |
| Matt Moore | SO | Syracuse University | McDonough, GA / Tennessee HS | Hurdles |
| Devon Patterson | JR | University at Buffalo | Williamsville, NY / Williamsville South HS | Throws |
| Aidan Tooker | SO | Syracuse University | Saratoga Springs, NY / Saratoga Springs HS | Steeplechase |
Others Considered
| Name | Grade | School | Hometown | Event |
| Iliass Aouani | SO | Syracuse University | Milan, Italy / Lamar HS | Distance |
| Bryce Millar | SO | Syracuse University | Manlius, NY / Fayetteville-Manlius HS | Distance |
| Mitchell Moore | SR | University at Buffalo | Ontario, NY / Jamestown HS | 400m Hurdles |
| Tyler Ranke | JR | University at Albany | Hilton, NY / Hilton HS | Distance |
| Calvary Rogers | JR | University of Pennsylvania | Rochester, NY / Greece Odyssey HS | Sprints |
| Kenny Vasbinder | SO | Columbia University | East Aurora, NY / East Aurora HS | Distance |
| Samuel Wray | SR | University at Buffalo | Lockport, NY / Starpoint HS | Throws |
About the Donald J. Paige Award
The Donald J. Paige Award, which debuted in 2012, is presented annually by the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame to the outstanding NCAA Division 1 College Male Athlete of the Year in or from the Niagara Association.
Paige, a member of the Hall of Fame's Class of 2000, who graduated from C. W. Baker High School, Baldwinsville, NY, and Villanova University. He was a member of the 1980 United States Olympic Track and Field Team for 800 meters, and was Pan-American Games Champion at 1500 meters in 1979. He set five World Records two American Records, and one Collegiate Best. Paige is a two-time USA National Champion Indoors at 1000 yards and a six-time NCAA Champion.
For more information on The Donald J. Paige Award, the trophy, and Don Paige himself, visit NiagaraTrackHoF.org.
About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards
The Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame Annual Awards program was developed to bring some well deserved recognition to the outstanding high school and college athletes and teams, and the top high school coach from the Niagara Association.
The finalists (top 3) are selected from the lists of semifinalists by a panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians.
The winner of all eight of Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame annual awards are selected by the same panel of area coaches, participants, and nationally-based historians and statisticians.
About the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame
Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is provisionally chartered by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. The purpose of the Niagara Track & Field Hall of Fame and Virtual Museum is to recognize those individuals who made significant and outstanding contributions to the Sport of Athletics (including Track & Field, Long Distance Running, Race Walking, and Cross Country Running) while living within the geographic boundaries (New York State West of and including the counties of Oswego, Onondaga, Cortland, and Broome) of the Niagara Association as athletes (including Masters), coaches, and/or administrators (including Competition Officials).
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