MARSHALL, Minn. – Five members of the Southwest Minnesota State University women's track & field team earned spots on the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team announced on Tuesday.
 
Named to the all-district squad from include sophomores Jada Backes, Michelle Marquard, and Anneka Sedelmyer, along with junior Christine Sleeter and senior Shealyn Tom.
 
The Academic All-District® track & field/cross country teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes basketball honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
 
To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District honors, nominees must have a 3.50 cumulative GPA, complete one full calendar year at their current institution and be at least a sophomore both academically and athletically. They must also have a Top 50 regional ranking performance in a single event during the track & field season, or a Top 50 performance at the NCAA region cross country meet.
 
Backes, an exercise science major from Rapid City, S.D., is a two-year member of the track & field team and earned Academic All-NSIC honors this winter and spring. She recorded a time of 1:05.73 in the 400-meter hurdles ranking 40^th in the region during the outdoor season.
 
Marquard, a finance major from Wisconsin Dells, Wis., earned Academic All-NSIC accolades this winter and spring. A two-year member of the track & field team, she had the 28^th best mark in the pole vault during the indoor season at 3.61m, while registering the 40^th best mark during the outdoor season at 3.50m.
 
Sedelmyer, a biology and environmental science major from Colorado Springs, Colo., ran 12:29.92 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to rank 48^th in the region. A two-year member of the outdoor team, she was named Academic All-NSIC this spring.
 
Sleeter, a physical education major from Suring, Wis., is a three-year member of the track & field team and earns CSC Academic All-District honors for the second straight season. A four-time Academic All-NSIC in both indoor and outdoor track & field, she recorded a mark of 1.67m in the high jump during the indoor season to rank 16^th in the region, while her height of 1.66m during the outdoor season ranked 20^th in the region.  
 
Tom has been a five-year member of the track & field team and earns CSC Academic All-District accolades for the fourth straight season. A native of Brea, Calif., Tom is a graduate of SMSU and is pursuing her master's degree. An eight-time Academic All-NSIC honoree, she ranked 32^nd in the region during the outdoor season in the pole vault with a mark of 3.56m, while ranking 40^th in the region during the outdoor season at 3.46m.
 
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.