NEW YORK, N.Y. (April 22, 2026) – American Dairy Association North East has announced the nominees for the second annual “Refuel with Chocolate Milk” Athletes of the Year.

Public voting is now open at AmericanDairy.com/Awards and runs until May 10. Winners will be announced by the end of May.

A total of 24 student-athletes across three disciplines were selected based on performances at The Armory in New York City during the 2025-26 indoor track and field season. The full list of nominees is below.

The “Refuel with Chocolate Milk Athlete of the Year” awards are one example of how dairy farmers, represented by American Dairy Association North East, partner with The Armory to support student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.

The partnership also highlights chocolate milk as a science-backed recovery beverage, thanks to its ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein (approximately 3 to 4 grams of carbs per gram of protein), which helps rehydrate the body, repair muscles, and replenish energy after intense activity.

In addition to honoring this year’s “Refuel with Chocolate Milk Athlete of the Year” winners, American Dairy Association North East served as the presenting sponsor of the Refuel with Chocolate Milk Officials Hall of Fame Invitational in January.

Through its ongoing partnership with The Armory — which hosts over 220,000 athlete visits annually — the association engages athletes through on-site branding, signage, chocolate milk sampling, and as a sponsor of the Refuel Zone, where athletes and spectators alike can purchase chocolate milk to recharge after competition or simply enjoy nutritious refreshments.

Girls’ Sprinter of the Year

  • Maya Arrendell | Bullis School | Potomac, Md.
  • Jane Hickey | The Ursuline School | New Rochelle, N.Y.
  • Kassidy Hopkins | Bullis School | Potomac, Md.
  • Kaddel Howard | Cedar Crest High School | Lebanon, Pa.

Boys’ Sprinter of the Year

  • Cameron Homer | Bullis School | Potomac, Md.
  • Kaeden Herbert | Susan E. Wagner High School | New York, N.Y.
  • Jayden DeLeon | Oakland Mills High School | Columbia, Md.
  • Joshua-Kai Smith | Gar-Field High School | Woodbridge, Va.

Girls’ Distance Runner of the Year

  • Naomi Douglas | LaGuardia High School | New York, N.Y.
  • Maggie McCormick | Bay Shore High School | Bay Shore, N.Y.
  • Blair Bartlett | The Lawrenceville School | Trenton, N.J.
  • Leah Starkey | Ocean Township High School | Ocean Township, N.J.

Boys’ Distance Runner of the Year: Liam Luff | Trinity School | New York, N.Y.

  • Liam Luff | Trinity School | New York, N.Y.
  • Claudel Marc Chery | North Rockland High School | Thiells, N.Y.
  • Ryan Sykes | Horace Greeley High School | Chappaqua, N.Y.
  • Jayden Lloyd McKenna | Pearl River High School | Pearl River, N.Y.

Girls’ Field Athlete of the Year

  • Brooklyn Lyttle | Elizaeth Seton High School | Bladensburg, Md.
  • Danae Morgan | Hastings High School | Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.
  • Morgan Holley | Union Catholic Regional High School | Scotch Plains, N.J.
  • Kate Voelker | Manhasset Secondary School | Manhasset, N.Y.

Boys’ Field Athlete of the Year

  • Ryan Buskey | Colonie Central High School | Albany, N.Y.
  • Kenneth Ramdayal | Herricks High School | New Hyde Park, N.Y.
  • Kane Poje | Tri-Valley Secondary School | Grahamsville, N.Y.
  • Owen Proskin | Plum Senior High School | Plum, Pa.

About American Dairy Association North East

American Dairy Association North East (ADA North East) is the dairy farmer-funded organization funded by participating dairy farmer’s checkoff investment to build demand and sales for milk and dairy foods throughout the local region. Representing more than 7,600 dairy farm families in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and northern Virginia, ADA North East develops and implements local programs to drive milk and dairy sales at retail outlets and in schools. The organization also conducts consumer education about dairy through events, traditional and social media, and in collaboration with health professionals through National Dairy Council. ADA North East works closely with Dairy Management Inc.™, the national dairy checkoff organization, to support nutrition research, national partnerships and developing export markets for dairy to bring a fully integrated promotion program to the region. For more information, visit www.AmericanDairy.com.

About The Armory

The Armory Foundation is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of “Keeping Everyone on Track.” Each season, The Armory – the proud home of the Nike Track & Field Center – produces the Millrose Games, hosts more than 100 track and field meets, and welcomes more than 300,000 visits. Among its many youth sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep and Great Minds programs, The Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meets with the Dr. Sander Columbia Scorcher and the HBCU Showcase presented by Nike. Additionally, The Armory hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with the Apple Bank Hispanic Games, the JAMBAR Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational, the Refuel with Chocolate Milk Officials’ Hall of Fame Invitational, and the U.S. Marines Corps Holiday Classic. The Armory runs the CUIMC Team Relay Marathon, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events. For more information, visit Armory.NYC and ArmoryTrack.org.