NEW ORLEANS, La. – For the 17th consecutive year, the Carleton College men's and women's track & field programs both received the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team Award. Additionally, four student-athletes were tabbed for the USTFCCCA's individual All-Academic honors.
The men's program posted a 3.694 cumulative team GPA, the seventh-highest figure in Division III and the ninth-best among all NCAA men's programs (across all three divisions). This is the 16th time over the last 17 years that the Knights have posted a top-20 team GPA in Division III. Meanwhile, the women's program owned a 3.62 cumulative GPA for the 2024-25 academic year.
To be nominated for the overall team award, a squad must carry a minimum 3.10 cumulative grade-point average. Both Carleton squads easily surpassed that mark once again. Over the last 17 years, the women's track & field program maintained a team cumulative GPA of better than 3.50 a total of 14 times — including eight national top-20 team GPAs. Over the same span, the men's program has posted a top-20 team GPA in Division III 16 times, including 13 years with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40.
In NCAA Division III this year, there were 169 men's programs and 209 women's teams recognized by the USTFCCCA for academic excellence. Among that group, Carleton is 1 of only 33 schools to have both its men's and women's squads record team GPAs of at least 3.50. Additionally, the Knights are 1 of only 2 MIAC programs to have both its men's and women's track & field teams own an active academic award streak of more than 15 years.
For individuals to qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Award, the student-athlete must compile a cumulative 3.30 GPA and either:
• compete at the NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championships OR
• finish the indoor or outdoor regular season ranked among the national top-50 in an individual event or top-35 in a relay event on the NCAA performance list.
Sophie McManus '25,
Hananh Preisser '26, and
Gabe Nichols '26 were tabbed as USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Athletes for the third consecutive year, while
Soren Kaster '27 secured his second consecutive honor.
Preisser was a First-Team All-American after finishing eighth in the 5000-meter run (17:03.8) at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. She also ranked No. 35 for the indoor 3000-meter run (9:54.60).
McManus qualified for 3000-meter steeplechase at NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships, finishing 17th. She also was among national leaders for the indoor 5000-meter run (44th at 17:31.22) and indoor 3000-meter run (48th at 9:59.92).
Nichols ranked inside the nation's top-50 in two events this year. He was ranked 22nd in the indoor 3000-meter run (8:18.19) and 44th in the indoor mile (4:13.01). Meanwhile, Kaster ranked 28th for the indoor heptathlon (4,745 points) and 46th for the outdoor decathlon (6,121 points).
