NEW ORLEANS, La. – Both the men’s and women’s track and field programs along with 26 student-athletes from the two squads combined earned academic honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2025 collegiate track & field seasons.

The Irish women’s team posted a 3.57 cumulative grade point average while the men’s squad registered a 3.454 GPA to earn the 2025 All-Academic Teams recognition. A team must have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and all student-athletes on the team’s indoor and/or outdoor track and field roster must be included in the calculation of the team GPA.

Sixteen members of the women’s team and ten members of the men’s team were named as All-Academic Athletes for 2025 by the USTFCCCA.

The members of the Irish track and field teams who earned All-Academic accolades for 2025 are:

• Isabel Allori
• Addison Berry
• Jordyn Borsch
• Alaina Brady
• Siona Chisholm
• Maya Collins
• Emily Covert
• Mary Bonner Dalton
• Gretchen Farley
• Sophie Novak
• Jadin O’Brien
• Arianne Olson
• Madison Schmidt
• Jillian Stafford
• Erin Strzelecki
• Ellis Weekley
• Tyler Berg
• Ethan Coleman
• Michael Danzi
• Drew Griffith
• Luke Himes
• Josh Methner
• Cole Nash
• Dimitri Nicholson
• CJ Singleton
• Cameron Todd

The honor is awarded to student-athletes who have at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and have completed at least two semesters at their school. Additionally, a student-athlete must meet athletically-related qualifications or either finishing in the top 96 individually/top 48 in a relay in indoor track and/or participating in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships or being ranked in the top 48 in the East Region.

The full listing of all programs and student-athletes recognized by the USTFCCCA for 2025 is available by clicking here.

When Authenticity Speaks Louder Than Titles

At the 2024 US Open, Raducanu made headlines not for a match, but for a moment. After spotting a young fan in the crowd, she made the effort to connect personally, exchanging a few heartfelt words. According to the US Open, the fan called it ‘the best day of my life’.

This wasn’t a PR stunt or staged moment, it was spontaneous and real. In that brief interaction, Raducanu showed that athletes don’t need to be flawless to be admired. They need to be human. And, that’s exactly what Gen Z wants.

Breaking the Mould in Women’s Sport

In an era where social media filters and curated personas dominate, Raducanu stands out by simply being herself. Her impact goes beyond tennis. According to the Lawn Tennis Association, women’s tennis has seen a 38% rise in female fan engagement since 2022.

Raducanu’s candid interviews, unfiltered social media presence and willingness to speak about challenges make her a key figure in this shift. ‘There are days I feel low, or not ready to play’, she said in 2024. ‘I don’t want to pretend otherwise’.

This kind of openness resonates deeply with a generation raised to prioritise mental health and emotional intelligence.

Gen Z Tennis Stars Are Redefining Cool

Raducanu is part of a growing group of Gen Z athletes reshaping tennis. As The Times reports, stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Raducanu are attracting new fans with their creativity, expressiveness and authenticity.

They’re not afraid to show emotion. They post their injuries, their setbacks and their small joys. Raducanu’s 2024 post about her comeback attempt, bruised, exhausted, but smiling garnered over 500,000 likes. Not because it was glamorous, but because it was real.

Grace in Mistakes Builds Loyalty

Earlier this year, Raducanu apologised after a tense practice session led her to snap at a fan. ‘I was frustrated and I let it affect someone else’s moment. That’s not who I want to be’, she said afterwards.

For Gen Z, apologies like this matter. They show accountability and self-awareness. Rather than protect a pristine image, Raducanu chose transparency, and it only deepened public respect.

This generation does not expect their heroes to be untouchable. They expect them to take ownership, to learn and to grow. In many ways, that’s a much higher standard.

Real Over Perfect: Why Raducanu Still Reigns

Raducanu’s popularity isn’t driven by results alone. Since her 2021 US Open victory, her career has included injuries, inconsistent form and intense scrutiny. Yet she remains a cultural touchstone. Why?

• She prioritises mental wellbeing over performance.
• She’s emotionally open and self-aware.
• She connects directly with fans, often without PR buffers.
• She aligns with Gen Z values like honesty, self-expression and inclusivity.

Her impact can’t be measured in ranking points alone. She reflects what sport can be when it’s honest, inclusive and human.

A New Measure of Success

Emma Raducanu is showing that success in 2025 isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. Gen Z doesn’t need a flawless champion. They want someone who feels like them: uncertain at times, but still standing. Someone who shows up, flaws and all.

In doing so, Raducanu isn’t just winning fans, she’s earning something far rarer: trust.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri track and field saw 16 individuals and both men’s and women’s teams named All-Academic Athletes and Programs, respectively, by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the league office announced.

On the men’s side, Emanuele Bellanova (mechanical engineering), Lasse Funck (art history), Garik Pozecki (animal science), Rece Rowan (sport management), Callan Saldutto (general studies), Sterling Scott (health science) and Jonathan Seremes (black studies) were recognized for their academic and athletic achievements.

The women’s team was represented by Rahel Broemmel (nutrition and exercise physiology), Alicia Burnett (psychology), Morgan Cannon (special education), Claudina Diaz (sport management), Val Galligan (mechanical engineering), Petra Gombas (parks, recreation, sport and tourism), Victoria Josse (journalism), Kristi Perez-Snyman (sport management) and Marlena Tresnjo (mechanical engineering).

As a program, the women earned a 3.581 grade point average (GPA), while the men maintained a 3.349.

To qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, Missouri student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and meet highly competitive standards during the indoor or outdoor seasons. Athletic criteria required athletes to either rank among the top 96 nationally in an indoor championship event, compete in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, or finish the season ranked in the top 48 regionally in an outdoor event.

To qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, each track and field squad must have posted a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, including the most recent grading period.

In total, a Mizzou student-athlete has received an All-Academic recognition from the USTFCCCA 216 times on the women’s side and 199 on the men’s.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest on Mizzou Cross Country and Track & Field, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the teams on Facebook, Instagram and X (MizzouTFXC).

So, to Monday morning. After my early morning dip in the waters off the coast of the Portuguese Riviera and breakfast, prior to which each player had his blood sampled, it was time to make the journey to our training headquarters.

A slick operation saw the kit team head out first, followed at 15-minute intervals by the coaching staff, other staff, the goalkeepers and finally the rest of the squad.

This allowed for everything to be in place systematically for when the players arrived, so that no time is lost prior to the various stages required prior to training.

It’s then that the medical and strength and conditioning teams really earn their metal, overseeing the processes required to ensure each player is mentally and physically prepared for the day ahead.

Then, of course, the first-team coaches come into their own, leading various training sessions. There is a lot of innovative thinking and, in certain respects, no two sessions are the same. It’s fair to say that the introduction of three new first-team coaches alongside Keith Andrews and Kevin O’Connor has brought a lot of fresh ideas to the team.

When the sessions are over, the players are put through their paces again on the gym apparatus, including, of course, exercise bikes, which are all placed alfresco thanks to the fine weather.

Then the players partially relax by trying their luck by shooting a basketball through a conveniently placed hoop. It has to be said there are a few who fancy themselves as a Michael Jordan or a LeBron James but, for me, it’s more luck than judgement!

However, for me, the most exciting relaxation opportunity (if that’s the correct terminology for it) to watch is Teqball. Apparently, it was a game invented some 11 years ago and is played on a curved table and combines elements of football and table tennis. But, of course, instead of a table tennis bat, you use your head and feet.

For me, the standout players were Yehor Yarmoliuk and Gustavo Nunes. The quality and length of some of their rallies were brilliant.

On Monday evening, Keith asked if I would do my presentation (entitled Brentford FC: It’s a very special club) on the history and heritage of the club to the players and new staff.

I believe it is so important, whether you are joining Brentford Football Club as a player or a member of staff, that you understand our past, and the integral part that supporters have made (Matthew Benham, bucket collections, Bees United, BIAS, Lifeline, plus other supporters groups, and, of course, the momentous events of 1967) to ensure that we are still in existence.

If Monday’s training session wasn’t enough, Tuesday’s was particularly intensive, with everybody in place at the training ground by 9.30am, whilst nobody left before 6.30pm! There were a number of sessions, both in the morning and the afternoon, from small-sided games to the full 11-a-side, interspersed with split group sessions, plus more gym work and exercise bikes.

In respect of the bikes, it would be of interest to know how far their 30-minute exertions would take them if out on the road. With all due respect, I don’t think the players were too concerned as they, to a man, looked very pleased when the cycling sessions were over.

As a result of the heavy day on Tuesday, Wednesday, in the main, was a day to relax, or at least certainly have a break from training.

So, it was decided that, mid-morning, everybody would head off to the beach for a game of beach volleyball. Having been personally advised by those who oversee beach regulations, the group were directed to another beach, where the volleyball posts and nets were set up in entertaining fashion and the court duly marked up.

Then (and I’m sure this is a flagrant abuse of beach volleyball etiquette) 16 players (eight-a-side) started to play. Enthusiastic? Yes. Entertaining? Yes. Competitive? Yes. Legal? No!

This is the first time since I started writing pre-season blogs that I’ve had to say that the police intervened!

Apparently, you have to have a permit to pitch up a beach volleyball court, much to the chagrin of a good number of bystanders who were being thoroughly entertained!