NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its All-Region honorees for the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season, with the Bruins putting numerous athletes on All-Region squads and earning one major award.

Freshman Carson Tapia became the first Bruin since James King in 2023 to be named a West Region Athlete of the Year, picking up the Track Athlete of the Year honor. Tapia, who scored four goals as a member of the men's soccer team in the fall, quickly showed his skill on the track as well as a freshman..

"It is pretty rare to have a freshman come in and rewrite the record books and gather up some big awards in the conference and region," Bruin head coach John Smith said, "Carson is very hard working and ultra competitive, but he is an even better teammate, who makes everyone around him better."

Tapia earned Second-Team All-America honors in the 200 meters at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Championships, placing ninth. He was named the NWC Track Athlete of the Year and NWC Rookie of the Year after scoring 22.5 points at the conference championships, completing the 100-200 sweep and toting the baton on the winning 4×100 relay. He broke the program's 200m record in the NWC Championships with a 21.30, later dropping his time down to 21.02.

"I am very excited and honored to have earned this accolade," Tapia said, "It means a lot to me to be able to represent George Fox. I owe everything to my teammates and coaches that helped me along the way. I can't wait to continue to do big things starting next fall in soccer season and continue that into the spring to hopefully have another great track season."

In addition to the major award, Tapia earned all region honors in 100m, 200m, and 400m. The top-8 individuals in each event from each region on the year-end Athletic.net Descending Order Lists earned All-Region distinction, in addition to each member of the region's top-8 relay teams.

For the men, Kristian Carrington (triple jump), Connor Christy (4x100), Caden Hildenbrand (10k), Ryan Lippert (10k), Luke Nelson (pole vault), Kellen Ruiz (steeplechase), Zeke Sikkema (pole vault), Blake Smith (110m hurdles, decathlon, 4x400), Caleb Smith (high jump, decathlon, 4x400), Tapia, and Larry Trefry (4x400) all earned the honors.

On the women's side, Chloe Cook (5k, 10k), Karys Gates (400m), Janice Hellesto (long jump), Jenna Huntsman (heptathlon), Makaylah Johnson (long jump, heptathlon), Kylie Morais (pole vault), Candice Mugo-Wainaina (shot put, discus, hammer), Evan Roberts (hammer), and Andie Shirley (javelin) were named All-Region.

As a team, the Bruins sent six of their 20 All-Region athletes to nationals, with five of those six earning All-American honors.