Fresno Pacific's Shemar Palmer, one of the most decorated track and field athletes in conference history, has been selected as the 2025-26 Pacific West Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
Palmer was chosen by the conference's athletic directors from a nominee list of conference player's of the year, representing the PacWest's seven men's sports.
Palmer is the first Sunbird to earn the honor and the first track and field athlete to since 2021 to be voted in.
At the conference championships this spring, Palmer was named the Track Athlete of the Meet for the third straight year, and this is also his third consecutive season to be named the Track Athlete of the Year at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
The native of Jamaicia earned two silver medals at the NCAA National Championships in the 200 and 400 meters. That came after winning his third consecutive PacWest titles in the 200 and 400. He holds the PacWest meet records in the 200 (20.47) and the 400 (45.77). The senior also anchored the Sunbird’s champion 4 x 400 relay team at the conference meet and he ran second leg on FPU’s race-winning 4 x 100 foursome.
The third-year Sunbird was also a USTFCCCA All-West Region lister in the 100 meters, the 200 meters, the 400 meters, and the 4x100 Relay.
ALL-TIME PACWEST MALE ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
| Year |
Name |
School |
Sport |
| 2012-13 |
Zach Esquerra |
California Baptist |
Baseball |
| 2013-14 |
Petr Michnev |
Hawai'i Pacific |
Tennis |
| 2014-15 |
Troy Leaf |
Azusa Pacific |
Basketball |
| 2015-16 |
Thibaud Berland |
Hawai'i Pacific |
Tennis |
| 2016-17 |
Oliver Frank |
Azusa Pacific |
Tennis |
| 2017-18 |
Mobolade Ajomale |
Academy of Art |
Track & Field |
| 2018-19 |
Mobolade Ajomale |
Academy of Art |
Track & Field |
| 2020-21 |
James Young |
Academy of Art |
Track & Field |
| 2021-22 |
Baxter Halligan |
Point Loma |
Baseball |
| 2022-23 |
Kaden Anderson |
Point Loma |
Basketball |
| 2023-24 |
Scott Anderson |
Point Loma |
Baseball |
| 2024-25 |
Adrian McIntyre |
Westmont |
Basketball |
| 2025-26 |
Shemar Palmer |
Fresno Pacific |
Track and Field |