CHICAGO – University of Chicago’s women’s track & field/cross country programs had three selections to the Academic All-America Team, as selected by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Anna Kenig-Ziesler headlined UChicago’s honorees with a First Team selection. Maddie Kelly and teammate Katarina Birimac both were selected to the Third Team.
All three honorees earned All-America status on their respective competition surfaces during their 2022-23 campaigns. The trio was also an integral part of the Maroons’ runner-up finish at the 2022 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, the highest-ever for the women’s program.
Kenig-Ziesler took her talents from the soccer pitch to the running surfaces full-time during the 2022-23 season, earning All-America status in four different respects. She placed 11th to earn All-American in cross country and then followed that up with All-America performances on the track in both the indoor (3rd) and outdoor (7th) 5K along with the outdoor (5th) 10K.
Kelly also earned a slew of All-America honors, earning the prestigious status in four events across cross country and track competition. She joined Kenig-Ziesler as an All-American in cross country, finishing 36th overall. The junior then followed that with a standout season on the track, placing second in the indoor 3K and the indoor Distance Medley Relay along with a runner-up finish in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Birimac joined her teammates as an All-American in the indoor 5K, finishing right behind Kenig-Zieser in fifth place. She was also a national qualifier in cross country along with qualifying in the indoor and outdoor 5K and the outdoor 10K.
Nominees for CSC Academic All-America must have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution.