University of Lethbridge Pronghorns track and field standout Jinaye Shomachuk has been named the 2026 U SPORTS Women's Field Athlete of the Year, capping off a historic season for the fourth-year thrower.

The public health student from Airdrie, Alta., delivered a dominant 2025–26 campaign, going undefeated in both the shot put and weight throw throughout the season. Her performances earned her Canada West Female Performance of the Meet honours at the conference championship, where she captured gold in both events.

Shomachuk's weight throw performances were among the best in Canadian university history. She recorded four throws during the season that exceeded the current U SPORTS record of 19.66m, including marks of 21.67m at the Jim Daly Bison Classic, 21.35m at the Golden Bear Open, 21.22m at the Pandas Open, and 20.77m at the Canada West Championships. She now ranks third all-time in U SPORTS history in the weight throw. She also claimed gold in the shot put at the Canada West Championships with a throw of 13.89m.

With the honour, Shomachuk becomes the first Pronghorns athlete to earn U SPORTS Women's Field Athlete of the Year.

Hours after she was awarded the Field Athlete of the Year title, Shomachuk went out and threw a 20.77m in weight throw at the National Championship Meet in Manitoba, winning a U SPORTS gold medal in the event and setting a new meet record. 

Jinaye Shomachuk recieves her Female Field Athlete of The Year Award at the U SPORTS Track and Field Championships banquet

"Well deserved accolades for Jinaye, who has put an incredible amount of hard work, discipline, and dedication into becoming the best athlete she can be," said Pronghorns Track & Field head coach Larry Steinke. "Her commitment to improving every day—both in training and in competition—has truly set her apart. What makes this recognition so special is that it reflects not only her talent, but the countless hours of preparation, perseverance, and passion she brings to her sport. She continues to raise the bar for herself and inspire those around her with her determination, resilience, and drive to succeed. We're incredibly proud to see her efforts recognized in this way."

Pronghorns Athletics Director Spencer Pommells also praised the impact Shomachuk has had on the program.

"Beyond the results and records, Jinaye has made a lasting impact on our program through the way she represents Pronghorn Athletics," said Pommells. "She competes with pride, carries herself with humility, and has become a role model for younger student-athletes who aspire to follow a similar path. This national recognition is incredibly well deserved and a proud moment for our entire Pronghorn community."

Shomachuk said receiving the national honour is both exciting and humbling.

"Winning this award is so awesome," she said in an interview with U SPORTS. "When I won the Canada West Field Athlete of the Year title last week it was already so rewarding, so being able to take it to the national level is just unbelievable. There are so many great athletes that were nominated and I feel very blessed to be the one who came out on top."

She also reflected on what it means to represent the University of Lethbridge on the national stage.

"It's so awesome," Shomachuk said. "We are a small but mighty program and have a great team of athletes with a lot of heart. Some people think that being with a smaller team has downsides, but being with a small program means we get to work closely together with our coaches and be a part of the amazing Lethbridge community."

Shomachuk's historic season and national recognition mark a milestone moment for Pronghorns track and field, further cementing the program's presence on the national stage.

Watch Jinaye and the rest of the Pronghorns compete at the 2026 U SPORTS National Championships March 5-7 live on CanadaWest TV.