Women’s Cross Country, Track Secure Five CSC Academic All-District Honors

CSC Release | TU Honors Page

UPLAND, Ind. – The College Sports Communicators (CSC) released its 2024 Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Academic All-District award-winners recently, in which five Trojans were honored.

Audrey Brinkruff, Ashley Hall, Abby Mays, Ahna Neideck, and Noel VanderWall earned the award after terrific seasons on the track and during cross country, along with outstanding achievement inside the classroom.

Brinkruff earned a 3.87 grade-point average (GPA) in her biology studies. The junior earned NAIA All-American honors in the 5,000-meters during the indoor season and was a three-time All-Crossroads League athlete, along with collecting two Crossroads League Runner-of-the-Week awards. Brinkruff was named the USTFCCCA Athlete of the Week in the second week of the cross country season.

Hall posted a 3.80 GPA to earn her second CSC Academic All-District honor. Hall had an outstanding year on the track, setting three individual program records and being on a relay team, which set yet another. Hall was named All-Crossroads League in three events and an NAIA All-American during the indoor season in the distance medley relay.

Mays collected the award with a 4.00 GPA throughout her psychology classes. Mays was outstanding on the track in her first collegiate season at Taylor, earning three NAIA All-American Honors, two during the indoor season and one in the outdoor campaign. Mays was a stalwart in the 4x800-meter relay team, which finished top-eight in the NAIA in both seasons, and was a key contributor in the distance medley relay during the indoor season.

Neideck earned a 3.54 GPA throughout her four years at Taylor, earning her human physiology and preventative medicine degree. The Petoskey, Michigan native earned a pair of NAIA All-American nods in her final season, including a runner-up finish in the steeplechase, an event in which she was a four-time NAIA All-American.

VanderWall has posted a 3.97 GPA throughout her two years in her elementary education major. VanderWall had an incredible athletic year for the Trojans, collecting five All-American Honors. The standout sophomore picked up NAIA All-American Honors in every sports season she competed in, one in cross country and a pair during both track and field seasons. VanderWall finished third in the mile in the indoor campaign while setting the program record in the event. The sophomore also set a TU record in the 1,500-meters in the outdoor season while being on the amazing distance medley relay team, which set a Taylor record.

The 2024 Academic All-District women's track & field and cross country teams, selected by each institution's sports information department, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom. To be considered for the award, student-athletes must hold a minimum 3.50 GPA, achieve at least sophomore academic status, and reach certain performance thresholds in their respective track events or cross country races.

All five of Taylor's all-district honorees have advanced to the Academic All-America national ballot to be voted on by members of the CSC, with the women's results set to be announced on July 9.