LATHAM, N.Y. - The United East conference has announced its Athletes of the Week for January 20, 2026. Today will include Players of the Week from Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field.
This week’s selections included contests through Sunday, January 19. A total of four student-athletes from two different member institutions were recognized for their performances.
Men’s Indoor Track & Field
Track Athlete of the Week
David Helms / JR / Lancaster Bible College / Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg
Helms continued his dominance in the distance events, competing in both the 3K and the 5K at the Alvernia Winter Invite on Saturday. The junior took 3rd and clocked a 8:54.39 in the 3,000m which not only set this year's standard in the conference but also became the record at Lancaster Bible. He then placed 2nd (first among collegiate runners) in the 5000m as he posted a time of 15:14.96. Helms currently holds the conference's top times in both of those events as well as the mile.
This is Helms' third weekly accolade of the year and his fifth of his career (1/13/26, 12/09/25, 02/11/25, 01/28/25).
Field Athlete of the Week
Jonathan Luo / SO / Penn State Harrisburg / New Cumberland, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt
Jonathan Luo shined the River Hawk Invite hosted by Susquehanna on Saturday afternoon, winning the triple jump event and setting a new program record in the process. His top leap of 13.73 meters stands as a school record and was good enough to top 13 other jumpers in the event. The sophomore also earned a fourth-place finish out of 31 total competitors in the long jump thanks to a top bound of 6.57 meters.
This is Luo's second career weekly accoalde (12/09/25).
Women’s Indoor Track & Field
Field Athlete of the Week
Elly Bruner / JR /. Lancaster Bible College / Lancaster, Pa. / Lampeter-Strasburg
Brunner participated in two jump events over the weekend at the Alvernia Winter Invite. The junior took home 3rd in the high jump, leaping a mark of 1.60 meters which currently tops the conference. She then collected a sixth place finish in the triple jump as she lept 10.80 meters, just .08m off of her current top mark.
This is Brunner's second career weekly accoalde (01/13/26)
Track Athlete of the Week
Abby Ames / JR / Lancaster Bible College / Lancaster, Pa. / Penn Manor
Ames set a pair of top conference marks in teh distance events at the Alvernia Winter Invite on Saturday. The junior marked a personal best in the mile as she crossed the finish line in a time of 5:39.34. She then went on to post a time of 11:21.69 in the 3000m, which is also now the conference standard.
This is Ames' first ever weekly accolade.
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The United East boasts 14 NCAA Division III full member institutions which include: Cairn University, Cedar Crest College, Gallaudet University, Keystone College, Lancaster Bible College, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Penn College, Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Harrisburg, St. Mary's College of Maryland, University of Valley Forge, and Wilson College. For more information, please visit gounitedeast.com.