NEW ORLEANS – The Carleton College men's track & field program posted the top team grade-point average among the 474 NCAA men's programs (Division I, II, and III) to receive the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team Award. This marks the 18th consecutive year that the Carleton men's program was honored by the USTFCCCA, and it is the fourth straight year that the Knights ranked inside the top-10 across all three NCAA Divisions.
Additionally,
Gabe Nichols '26 and
Soren Kaster '27 were tabbed for the USTFCCCA's individual All-Academic honors.
The Carleton men posted a 3.78 cumulative team GPA. This is the 17th time over the last 18 years that the Knights have posted a top-20 team GPA in Division III. Meanwhile, the women's program owned a 3.69 cumulative GPA for the 2025-26 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 18 years, the women's track & field program maintained a team cumulative GPA of better than 3.50 a total of 15 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 17 times, including 14 years with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.40.
This year, 165 NCAA D-III men's programs and 213 women's teams were recognized by the USTFCCCA for academic excellence. Among that group, Carleton is 1 of only 31 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 16 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.
Nichols was tabbed as USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Athletes for the fourth consecutive year, while Kaster secured his third straight honor.
Nichols ranked inside the nation's top-50 in two events this year. He was ranked 28th in the indoor 3000-meter run (8:18.58) and 40th in the indoor mile (4:12.40). Meanwhile, Kaster ranked 25th for the indoor heptathlon (4,783 points) and 24th for the outdoor decathlon (6,490 points).
