JOPLIN, Mo. — Missouri Southern women's track & field and cross country student-athletes Abbey Brackenbury, Adrianne Casey, Lilah Genel, Briar Gillum, Abby Hobbs, Keilee Johnson were all named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced Tuesday.

Johnson, Casey, Gillum and Hobbs were selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists 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 15, 2026.
 
The 2025-26 Academic All-District Women's Track & Field/Cross Country teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes women's track & field/cross country 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.

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. The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.

 
Abbey Brackenbury
So. | Blue Springs, Mo. | Distance Runner | Exercise Science | 4.00 GPA
Abbey Brackenbury competed in 16 meets over the 2025-26 cross country (5) and track & field (11, six indoor, five outdoor) seasons. She was named to the 2026 USTFCCCA Central All-Region for the 5,000 meters during the outdoor campaign.

Brackenbury placed 38th in the 6K at the 2025 MIAA Cross Country Championship (22:58.7). She then completed the 6K at the 2025 NCAA DII Central Region in a PR time of 22:11.1 (39th).

Over the track & field season, she had nine top-10 finishes including the 1,500 title (4:43.97) at the 18th Annual David Suenram Gorilla Classic. Brackenbury was seventh in the 5,000 meters (17:23.27) and 10th in the 3,000 meters (10:12.01) at the 2026 MIAA Indoor Track & Field Championship.

She ranks sixth in MSSU program history for the indoor 5,000 meters and fourth for the outdoor 5,000 meters (17:05.54).

Outdoors, she ran the 5,000 meters in 18:25.19 (15th) at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championship.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and an MIAA Academic Excellence recipient over the 2025 cross country and 2026 track & field seasons.
 
Adrianne Casey
Jr. | Poplar Bluff, Mo. | Javelin | Exercise Science | 3.64 GPA
Adrianne Casey captured the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship in the javelin with a career-best 52.71m (172-11). She ranks third all-time in MSSU program history for the event and was named a 2026 All-American by NCAA and USTFCCCA.

Casey competed in 11 meets in 2026 with four titles. She earned All-MIAA honors, with a third place finish in javelin (51.42m, 168-8) at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championship.

Casey was also named to the 2026 USTFCCCA Central All-Region for Javelin.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and an MIAA Scholar Athlete over the 2026 track & field seasons.
 
Lilah Genel 
Sr. | Springfield, Mo. | Distance Runner | Chemistry | 3.67 GPA
Lilah Genel competed in 14 meets over the 2025-26 cross country (5) and track & field (9, five indoor, 4 outdoor) seasons. She was named to the 2025 USTFCCCA All-Region for Cross Country after she placed 20th (21:42.6) in the 6K at the Central Region.

She took 18th in the 6K at the 2025 MIAA Cross Country Championship in 22:23.5 for All-MIAA Honorable Mention. Genel had two top-10 finishes including a runner-up finish at the SBU Bearcat XC Invitational (17:54.3 in 5K).

She was named MIAA Athlete of the Week after a career-best 5K at the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in 17:36.6.

At the 2026 MIAA Indoor Track & Field Championship, Genel raced in the 3,000 meters (10:12.88, 12th) and 5,000 meters (17:27.33, eighth).

She won the 5,000 meters (17:16.85) at the UCM Mule Relays after notching a PR of 17:11.57 (24th) at the 2026 WashU Distance Carnival (sixth in MSSU program history).

Genel earned All-MIAA honors with a third place finish in the 10,000 meters at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championships. She notched a career best time of 35:39.24 which moves her to third all-time in MSSU program history. Genel was also named to the 2026 USTFCCCA Central All-Region for the distance.

Genel was also fourth in the 5,000 meters (17:42.72) at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championships.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and an MIAA Scholar Athlete over the 2025 cross country and 2026 track & field seasons.

Briar Gillum
R-Jr. | Rossville, Kan. | Thrower | English Education | 3.73 GPA
Briar Gillum earned All-American status by NCAA and USTFCCCA over both the 2026 indoor and outdoor seasons.

Gillum finished seventh in the weight throw with a personal-best 19.19m (62-11.5) at the 2026 NCAA DII Indoor Championship. She now ranks fourth all-time in MSSU program history.

At the 2026 NCAA DII Outdoor Championships, she picked up a trio of All-American honors in shot put (15.40m, 50-6.25, sixth), discus (49.14m, 161-3, ninth) and hammer throw (53.79m, 176-6, 14th).

She was named the 2026 MIAA High Point Award recipient over the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championships after she earned 26 points, including first in discus (173-3, 52.81m) and second in both hammer throw (61.96m, 203-3) and shot put (15.54m, 51-0). Gillum holds the MSSU program record for hammer throw and is second all-time for discus and sixth for outdoor shot put.

In addition to her All-American honors, Gillum was named 2026 USTFCCCA Central All-Region for indoor shot put and weight throw as well as outdoor hammer, discus and shot put. She was tabbed the MIAA Field Athlete of the Week on April 21.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and an MIAA Scholar Athlete over the 2026 track & field seasons.
 
Abby Hobbs
Sr. | Rolla, Mo. | Pole Vault | Biology | 4.00 GPA
Abby Hobbs was named a 2026 All-American by NCAA and USTFCCCA after she overcame a pole vault height of 3.80m (12-5.5) for 15th at the 2026 NCAA DII Outdoor Championship.

She competed in 14 meets over the 2026 season with 11 top-10 finishes and an event title. Hobbs won pole vault in her hometown of Rolla at the 2026 Miner Invitational (3.90m, 12-9.5).

She finished 10th at the 2026 MIAA Indoor Championship (3.63m, 11-10.75) and sixth at the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championship (3.88m, 12-8.75).

She ranks sixth in MSSU program history for both outdoor (3.97m, 13-0.25) and indoor (3.91m, 12-10) pole vault.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, an MIAA Scholar Athlete and an MIAA Academic Excellence recipient over the 2026 track & field seasons.
  
Keilee Johnson
Sr. | Bates City, Mo. | Javelin | Sports & Recreation Management | 3.52 GPA
Keilee Johnson finished second in the javelin at the 2026 NCAA Division II National Championship with 52.39m (171-10) for All-American honors from NCAA and USTFCCCA.

Johnson competed in 12 meets in 2026 with four event titles. She captured the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Championship in javelin with a career-best mark of 54.70m (179-5). Johnson ranks first all-time in MSSU program history for javelin after the All-MIAA heave.

She was also named to the 2026 USTFCCCA Central All-Region for Javelin.

Academically, she was selected to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and an MIAA Scholar Athlete over the 2026 track & field seasons.