Eastern Michigan Athletics
Track & Field Earns 12 CSC Academic All-District Honors
6/29/2026 10:39:00 AM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Student-athletes were required to post a 3.50 GPA and one mark inside the region top-50
GREENWOOD, Ind. (EMUEagles.com) – College Sports Communicators (CSC) revealed its 2025-26 Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-District teams Tuesday, June 23. Eastern's men's and women's programs combined to see 12 named to the list.
Student-athletes were required to post at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and hold at least one mark that ranks inside the NCAA Great Lakes Region top-50 to qualify for the prestigious award.
The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes cross country/track & field honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced July 14-15.
Earning the honor for the men's team are Cason Doolittle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty Benton), Michael Hawkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical), Leo Ignacio (Saline, Mich./Saline), Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive), Olawole Olanrewaju (Akoko North-West, Nigeria/Wallas Universal Secondary School), and Gabe Oliveira (São Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Jornalista David Nasser).
Doolittle made the list for the second time in his career after holding four marks inside the region top-50 in the outdoor season. His decathlon score of 6,196 points stood 17th in the region, his high jump of 1.93m (6-04.00) ranked 30th, while his 110m hurdles ranked 46th with a time of 15.44, and his javelin throw of 39.24m ranked 49th. He also holds a 3.94 GPA as an aviation major.
Hawkins earned the honor with two times in the region top-50 in both indoor and outdoor seasons, along with his 3.61 GPA as a marketing major. In the indoor season, his 60m hurdles time of 8.00 ranked 16th, and he was a member of the Mid-American Conference Championship distance medley relay team that took the title with a time of 9:56.40, ranking 12th in the region. Seeing success in the hurdles events in the outdoor season, Hawkins' 110m hurdles time of 14.23 ranked 12th regionally, while his 400m hurdles time of 52.95 stood 15th.
With top-50 regional ranks in both indoor and outdoor seasons, along with a 3.92 GPA in mechanical engineering, Ignacio made the list with four individual marks and one relay contribution. His indoor 60m hurdles of 8.17 stands 23rd regionally, while his 200m of 21.76 was 39th. In his outdoor season, Ignacio's 110m hurdles time of 14.20 ranked 10th in the region, his 100m of 10.70 was 44th, and the 4x100m relay team he was a part of ran a time of 40.24, ranking seventh.
McEachern earns the honor for the second time in his career, also making the list in the 2024-25 season. This year, the biology major holds a 3.58 GPA, and saw marks in the region top-50 in both indoor and outdoor seasons. His indoor weight throw of 19.77m (64-10.75) ranked 13th, while his outdoor hammer throw of 64.29m (210-11) stood seventh, and his outdoor discus throw of 49.48m (162-4) landed 26th. McEachern earned All-MAC Second Team honors after finishing in second place in the hammer throw at the MAC Outdoor Championships, with a throw of 61.98m (203-4), along with qualifying for the NCAA East First Round in the hammer throw.
Excelling in the outdoor season, Olanrewaju also made the list for the second time in his career. The junior holds a 3.65 GPA in digital media production, and saw three marks in the region top-50. His 400m of 46.70 ranked 13th in the region, while he was a member of the 4x400m relay team that ran a time of 3:08.79 that stood fifth, along with the 4x100m relay team that ran a time of 40.24, ranking seventh. His 400m time of 46.70 earned him All-MAC Second Team honors at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Oliveira lands on the list with his 3.75 GPA in communications and total of four region top-50 marks. In the indoor season, his triple jump of 15.37m (50-05.25) ranked eighth regionally, and in the top 100 nationally, while his long jump of 7.26m (23-10.00) stood 18th in the region. His outdoor triple jump of 15.54m (51-00.00) was third in the region, 75th in the nation, and his long jump of 7.06m (23-02.00) ranked 30th. Oliveira earned All-MAC First Team honors in the indoor season, as the triple jump champion with a mark of 15.30m (50-02.50), along with qualifying for the NCAA East First Round in the triple jump in the outdoor season.
For the women, Natalie Buratczuk (Saint Charles, Ill./Saint Charles North), Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area/Rutgers), Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins), Lena Korte (Clinton, Mich./Clinton), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy), and Mariia Yelanska (Dnipro, Ukraine) garnered the award.
A recent EMU graduate, earning a degree in marketing with a 3.55 GPA, Buratczuk saw both indoor and outdoor high jump marks land in the region top-50. Her indoor clearance of 1.67m (5-05.75) stood 31st, while her outdoor mark of 1.63m (5-04.25) ranked 42nd.
Emin makes the list with her 3.86 GPA in exercise science and both indoor and outdoor 800m times. Her indoor time of 2:10.58 ranked 29th regionally, while her outdoor time of 2:09.28 stood 33rd.
Another recent graduate of the program, Johnson made the list after earning a nursing degree with a GPA of 3.94, and a total of three region top-50 throws. Her indoor weight throw of 17.38m (57-00.25) stood 39th, while her outdoor hammer throw of 51.56m (169-2) ranked 37th, and her outdoor discus throw of 42.02m (137-10) was 48th in the region.
Korte graduated in April with a degree in the individualized studies program, with a GPA of 3.51, along with two indoor regional marks to land on the list. Her shot put of 13.66m (44-09.75) stood 37th, while her weight throw of 16.59m (54-05.25) was 47th.
Only seeing action in the outdoor season, Walkes earned the honor with a 3.61 GPA, earning her Master of Business Administration, along with seeing three individual and two relay times land in the region top-50. Her 100m time of 11.58 stood 20th, her 23.30 200m was eighth, helping her qualify for the NCAA East First Round, and her 400m of 53.51 ranked 10th. Additionally, Walkes was a member of two MAC Championship winning relay teams, as the 4x100m relay time of 45.33 won gold and stood 10th regionally, while the 4x400m relay team took the title in 3:38.21, while its season best time of 3:33.86 ranked fifth in the region, along with being the EMU program record.
Yelanska lands on the list as she holds a 3.71 GPA in exercise physiology, and both indoor and outdoor triple jump marks ranking in the top 50 in the region. Her indoor triple jump of 12.15m (39-10.50) stood 16th, while her outdoor mark of 12.56m (41-02.50) ranked 12th.
The full lists of student-athletes who earned the award can be accessed here.
Follow Us
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Student-athletes were required to post at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA and hold at least one mark that ranks inside the NCAA Great Lakes Region top-50 to qualify for the prestigious award.
The 2025-26 Academic All-District® Men's and Women's Cross Country/Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes cross country/track & field honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Student-athletes selected as CSC Academic All-America® finalists are denoted with an asterisk and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced July 14-15.
Earning the honor for the men's team are Cason Doolittle (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty Benton), Michael Hawkins (Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical), Leo Ignacio (Saline, Mich./Saline), Jake McEachern (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive), Olawole Olanrewaju (Akoko North-West, Nigeria/Wallas Universal Secondary School), and Gabe Oliveira (São Paulo, Brazil/Escola Estadual Jornalista David Nasser).
Doolittle made the list for the second time in his career after holding four marks inside the region top-50 in the outdoor season. His decathlon score of 6,196 points stood 17th in the region, his high jump of 1.93m (6-04.00) ranked 30th, while his 110m hurdles ranked 46th with a time of 15.44, and his javelin throw of 39.24m ranked 49th. He also holds a 3.94 GPA as an aviation major.
Hawkins earned the honor with two times in the region top-50 in both indoor and outdoor seasons, along with his 3.61 GPA as a marketing major. In the indoor season, his 60m hurdles time of 8.00 ranked 16th, and he was a member of the Mid-American Conference Championship distance medley relay team that took the title with a time of 9:56.40, ranking 12th in the region. Seeing success in the hurdles events in the outdoor season, Hawkins' 110m hurdles time of 14.23 ranked 12th regionally, while his 400m hurdles time of 52.95 stood 15th.
With top-50 regional ranks in both indoor and outdoor seasons, along with a 3.92 GPA in mechanical engineering, Ignacio made the list with four individual marks and one relay contribution. His indoor 60m hurdles of 8.17 stands 23rd regionally, while his 200m of 21.76 was 39th. In his outdoor season, Ignacio's 110m hurdles time of 14.20 ranked 10th in the region, his 100m of 10.70 was 44th, and the 4x100m relay team he was a part of ran a time of 40.24, ranking seventh.
McEachern earns the honor for the second time in his career, also making the list in the 2024-25 season. This year, the biology major holds a 3.58 GPA, and saw marks in the region top-50 in both indoor and outdoor seasons. His indoor weight throw of 19.77m (64-10.75) ranked 13th, while his outdoor hammer throw of 64.29m (210-11) stood seventh, and his outdoor discus throw of 49.48m (162-4) landed 26th. McEachern earned All-MAC Second Team honors after finishing in second place in the hammer throw at the MAC Outdoor Championships, with a throw of 61.98m (203-4), along with qualifying for the NCAA East First Round in the hammer throw.
Excelling in the outdoor season, Olanrewaju also made the list for the second time in his career. The junior holds a 3.65 GPA in digital media production, and saw three marks in the region top-50. His 400m of 46.70 ranked 13th in the region, while he was a member of the 4x400m relay team that ran a time of 3:08.79 that stood fifth, along with the 4x100m relay team that ran a time of 40.24, ranking seventh. His 400m time of 46.70 earned him All-MAC Second Team honors at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Oliveira lands on the list with his 3.75 GPA in communications and total of four region top-50 marks. In the indoor season, his triple jump of 15.37m (50-05.25) ranked eighth regionally, and in the top 100 nationally, while his long jump of 7.26m (23-10.00) stood 18th in the region. His outdoor triple jump of 15.54m (51-00.00) was third in the region, 75th in the nation, and his long jump of 7.06m (23-02.00) ranked 30th. Oliveira earned All-MAC First Team honors in the indoor season, as the triple jump champion with a mark of 15.30m (50-02.50), along with qualifying for the NCAA East First Round in the triple jump in the outdoor season.
For the women, Natalie Buratczuk (Saint Charles, Ill./Saint Charles North), Sophie Emin (Easton, Pa./Easton Area/Rutgers), Aleah Johnson (Botkins, Ohio/Botkins), Lena Korte (Clinton, Mich./Clinton), Saraiah Walkes (Manatee County, Fla./The-Out-of-Door-Academy), and Mariia Yelanska (Dnipro, Ukraine) garnered the award.
A recent EMU graduate, earning a degree in marketing with a 3.55 GPA, Buratczuk saw both indoor and outdoor high jump marks land in the region top-50. Her indoor clearance of 1.67m (5-05.75) stood 31st, while her outdoor mark of 1.63m (5-04.25) ranked 42nd.
Emin makes the list with her 3.86 GPA in exercise science and both indoor and outdoor 800m times. Her indoor time of 2:10.58 ranked 29th regionally, while her outdoor time of 2:09.28 stood 33rd.
Another recent graduate of the program, Johnson made the list after earning a nursing degree with a GPA of 3.94, and a total of three region top-50 throws. Her indoor weight throw of 17.38m (57-00.25) stood 39th, while her outdoor hammer throw of 51.56m (169-2) ranked 37th, and her outdoor discus throw of 42.02m (137-10) was 48th in the region.
Korte graduated in April with a degree in the individualized studies program, with a GPA of 3.51, along with two indoor regional marks to land on the list. Her shot put of 13.66m (44-09.75) stood 37th, while her weight throw of 16.59m (54-05.25) was 47th.
Only seeing action in the outdoor season, Walkes earned the honor with a 3.61 GPA, earning her Master of Business Administration, along with seeing three individual and two relay times land in the region top-50. Her 100m time of 11.58 stood 20th, her 23.30 200m was eighth, helping her qualify for the NCAA East First Round, and her 400m of 53.51 ranked 10th. Additionally, Walkes was a member of two MAC Championship winning relay teams, as the 4x100m relay time of 45.33 won gold and stood 10th regionally, while the 4x400m relay team took the title in 3:38.21, while its season best time of 3:33.86 ranked fifth in the region, along with being the EMU program record.
Yelanska lands on the list as she holds a 3.71 GPA in exercise physiology, and both indoor and outdoor triple jump marks ranking in the top 50 in the region. Her indoor triple jump of 12.15m (39-10.50) stood 16th, while her outdoor mark of 12.56m (41-02.50) ranked 12th.
The full lists of student-athletes who earned the award can be accessed here.
Follow Us
For updates on all things EMU cross country/track & field, continue to check EMUEagles.com or follow the team on Instagram, X, and Facebook at @EMUXC_TF.
Players Mentioned
High Jump
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Multis
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Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
Hurdles
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Throws
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws/Javelin
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Throws
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track & Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
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