HOUSTON – University of St. Thomas freshman Cam Grimaldo highlighted a strong outdoor season for the Celts by being named the 2026 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) Men's Track & Field First-Year Athlete of the Year, the conference announced following a vote of league head coaches and sports information directors.
Grimaldo becomes the first student-athlete in program history to earn SCAC Men's Track & Field First-Year Athlete of the Year honors.
The Dickson, Texas native put together an impressive debut campaign, earning three All-SCAC honors at the 2026 SCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and helping lead the Celts to a fifth-place team finish with 71 points.
Grimaldo captured the conference championship in the 400-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in 54.66 to secure his first SCAC title. He also earned All-SCAC recognition with a third-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles after posting a time of 14.84 and added another podium performance in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, 4.75 inches (1.95m) for third place.
His performance at the conference championships was historic for the UST program, as Grimaldo became the first Celt to earn All-SCAC honors in both the 400-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles during the same championship meet.
The Celts also received a standout performance from sophomore Joshua Martinez, who earned All-SCAC honors with a runner-up finish in the 400-meter hurdles. Martinez crossed the line in 55.56, giving St. Thomas the top two finishers in the event.
Freshman Elijah Emerson added another All-SCAC accolade for UST by claiming the conference title in the 5,000 meters. Emerson raced to a winning time of 15:24.42, securing the gold medal and adding valuable points toward the team's top-five finish.
St. Thomas has now finished among the top five teams at the SCAC Outdoor Championships in four of the last five seasons, continuing the program's growth and success on the conference stage.
UST Men's All-SCAC Selections
Cam Grimaldo
- First-Year Athlete of the Year
- 400-Meter Hurdles Champion (54.66)
- Third Place, 110-Meter Hurdles (14.84)
- Third Place, High Jump (6' 4.75")
Joshua Martinez
- Second Place, 400-Meter Hurdles (55.56)
Elijah Emerson
- SCAC Champion, 5,000 Meters (15:24.42)
