Montclair, NJ- Announced on Tuesday afternoon by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization, the Montclair State University cross country and track and field teams stamped eight of their student athletes on this year's academic All-District team.
 
The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Women's Track & Field/Cross Country teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes women's track & field/cross country honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
 
To be eligible for the All-District team, a student athlete must be a sophomore or higher in academic standing, hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, and either place in the top 50 at a regional event (cross country) or hold a top 50 time/mark in their region (track & field).
 
Representing the Red Hawks from all three teams were GABRIEL DAYON, LEONARDO PALESCANDOLO, ABIGAIL CHURCHILL, MAYA YESALONIS, BRIANNA RODDY, LILIANA SNYDER, CHLOE BRIJBAG, and AISHA GARCIA.
 
Dayon earns a 3.97 GPA as a sports communication major. His other qualifying mark came during the outdoor season, where he finished 13^th regionally in the javelin with a mark of 54.65m. He earned that mark at the AARTFC Championships, where he placed ninth at that meet.
 
Palescandolo earns this honor with a 3.89 GPA as a business administration major. Leonardo's best mark came in the javelin, where he threw 44.88m, which placed him 47^th in the region during the outdoor season.
 
Churchill earned her degree in exercise science while maintaining a 3.54 GPA. She earned her qualifying marks during all three seasons of her competition. During cross country, she placed sixth in the 6K at the Metro Regional Championships. In regional standings during the indoor track season, she finished 10^th in the 3000-meter run (10:20.57), 18^th in the 5000-meter run (18:57.62), and 22^nd in the mile (5:18.46). During the outdoor season, she finished the season fifth in the 10000-meter run (38:58.86), 12^th in the 5000-meter run (17:59.01), 17^th in the 1500-meter run (4:50.33), and 37^th in the 800-meter run (2:24.37), regionally.
 
Yesalonis nabbed this accolade with a 3.88 GPA in school counseling. She saw several high regional rankings as a thrower during both the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Indoors, she finished 12^th in the weight throw (14.60m) and 16^th in the shot put (11.50m). In the outdoor season, she ranked 10^th in the hammer throw (43.77m) and 12^th in the shot put (11.75m).
 
Roddy finished her career with a cumulative GPA of 3.51 in Nutrition and Food Science. Her top mark of the year came during the outdoor track and field season, where she finished 13^th regionally in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 12:37.79.
 
Snyder holds a perfect 4.0 GPA throughout her collegiate career. During the indoor season, she slotted regional finishes of 46 in the mile (5:34.99) and 48 in the 3000-meter run (11:18.78). She also finished right in 50^th place in the 5000-meter run (19:48.89).
 
Brijbag has a 3.50 GPA as an elementary education major and saw three top 50 finishes during the track and field seasons. Inside, she finished 10^th in the shot put with a mark of 11.96m, which also helped her medal at the NJAC Championships. Outdoors, she ranked 25^th in the shot put (11.02m) and 46^th in the hammer throw (34.94m).
 
Garcia rounds off the list with a 3.75 GPA. During the indoor season, she compiled regional rankings of 11 in the 60-meter dash (7.92) and 35 in the 200-meter dash (26.64). During the outdoor season, she finished the season tied for sixth regionally in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.31.
 
Dayon and Churchill both earn this honor for the second year in a row, while the rest of the field earned it for the first time.