Two-Time National Champion Poppe Voted SAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Wingate's Luca Poppe has been voted the 2025-26 South Atlantic Conference Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, the league announced today.

Poppe, a senior distance runner from Zwolle, The Netherlands, delivered a historic performance at the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in Virginia Beach, capturing two national titles. He won the 5,000 meters with a time of 13:47.22 and followed with a victory in the 3,000 meters, crossing the line in 7:57.14. His 3,000-meter title came in dramatic fashion, winning by just 0.03 seconds.

Behind Poppe's efforts and those of his teammates, Wingate turned in a program-best finish of third place in the team standings at the national meet.

The SAC Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year is selected by a vote of the league's head coaches.