Nine UIS student-athletes were named to the 2025 Academic All-District cross country/track and field teams, as announced Tuesday, June 24, by College Sports Communicators (CSC). Nomination criteria include a regional top-50 finish in cross country and rankings in indoor and outdoor track and field events. Additionally, student-athletes must maintain a 3.50 cumulative GPA and be of at least sophomore status.

The maximum of five nominees from the men's team earned the distinction: Isaac Cortes, Briar Nevills, Ryan Jones, Joey Karlesky, and Noah Tegeler. Four student-athletes represented the women's team: Madelyn Miller, Kaleigh Inniss, Jordan Serrahn, and Allison Thompson. Cortes, Nevills, Jones and Miller advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot.

Isaac Cortes was named to the Academic All-District team after earning All-GLVC honors in both cross country and indoor track during his first season at UIS as a graduate transfer. He recorded the team's top times in the 1,500 meters and 5,000 meters and ranked second in the 10,000 meters. Cortes ranked in seven events across the season, including four indoor and three outdoor, with his best regional placement coming in the indoor 5,000 meters at No. 15.

Briar Nevills, now a second-time Academic All-District honoree, also advances to the Academic All-America ballot. He was the top UIS runner at the NCAA Midwest Regional in cross country, placing 24th to earn all-region honors. Nevills finished fourth in the 5,000 meters and eighth in the 3,000 meters at the GLVC Indoor Championships and ranked No. 14 in the Midwest Region in the 10,000 meters. He also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Ryan Jones, a fifth-year student-athlete and three-time Academic All-District selection, also moves forward to the Academic All-America ballot. He ranked in the top 50 in the Midwest Region in six events, including No. 26 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He held the team's best times in both the 800 meters and steeplechase during the season and was part of the school-record indoor 4x400-meter relay. Jones earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Joey Karlesky earned his first Academic All-District recognition. The sophomore was a top-50 performer in the Midwest Region in three events, including a No. 32 ranking in the 10,000 meters. He was also an All-GLVC cross country runner and earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Noah Tegeler, a senior and second-time honoree, earned his first All-GLVC recognition in cross country this season. He ranked among the UIS top five in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters in outdoor track and was ranked in the region's top 50 in both events, with a best regional ranking of No. 34 in the 10,000 meters.

Madelyn Miller, a repeat Academic All-District selection, had a standout season with top-50 regional marks in five track and field events. She earned All-Region honors in cross country after placing 22nd at the NCAA Midwest Regional and was a national qualifier in three events. Miller finished 10th in the indoor 5,000 meters to earn Second Team All-America honors and advances to the Academic All-America ballot. She also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Jordan Serrahn, a fifth-year student-athlete and two-time Academic All-District honoree, ranked among the top 50 in the Midwest Region in the outdoor 10,000 meters. Serrahn also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Kaleigh Inniss, a transfer junior in her first year with the Prairie Stars, earned All-GLVC honors in cross country and the indoor 3,000 meters. She led UIS in the 1,500 meters and ranked second on the team in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Inniss was ranked in the region's top 50 in two indoor and three outdoor events. She also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for cross country.

Allison Thompson, a sophomore and first-time honoree, earned Academic All-District recognition after a top-50 regional ranking in the 10,000 meters. She joined Miller, Serrahn and Inniss in helping UIS earn a No. 5 USTFCCCA event squad ranking in the 10,000 meters following the opening week of the outdoor season.

Several athletes' accolades were bolstered by USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in cross country. The corresponding awards for track and field are still forthcoming for the 2025 season.

Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America selections will be announced on July 15, 2025.