Photo by: Pershelle Rohrer
Seven Bobcat Track & Field Athletes Named CSC Academic All-District
6/23/2026 11:55:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Coey, Ells, Gandolfi, Hawkes, McManus, Motley, and Siana honored for outstanding academic and athletic achievements
BOZEMAN, Mont. --- Montana State track & field and cross country placed seven student-athletes on the 2025-26 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District team for the 2025-26 season, the organization announced on Tuesday.
Montana State's 2025-26 honorees include Sam Ells and Rob McManus on the men's side and Hailey Coey, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes, Niamh Motley, and Madi Siana on the women's side. The CSC Academic All-District team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined academic and athletic performances. All-District honorees must hold a 3.50 cumulative GPA and have earned a top-50 regional ranking in a single event in track & field or a top-50 individual performance at the 2025 regional cross country meet during the 2025-26 season. Coey, Gandolfi, Hawkes, and McManus were also selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists, with First-, Second-, and Third-Team Academic All-America honorees set to be announced on July 14 for the men and July 15 for the women.
A Second-Team All-American indoors in 2025-26, Coey placed 11th in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships to cap off a stellar season that included a Big Sky title in the long jump and a fourth-place finish in the triple jump. She was named the Big Sky Women's Most Outstanding Performer for her long jump performance at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, adding to a record-breaking indoor campaign that featured a school and conference record in the long jump, a school record in the triple jump, seven total event wins, and three Big Sky Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors. Also a 2025 Honorable Mention All-American in the long jump outdoors, Coey is a two-time Big Sky champion, three-time all-conference performer, and 11-time scorer at the Big Sky Championships over the course of her career, while holding school records in the indoor and outdoor long jump, as well as the indoor triple jump. Coey graduated with the highest honors from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Finance. She completed her degree with a 3.93 cumulative GPA.
Ells earned 2025 All-Big Sky honors in cross country thanks to his 10th-place finish at the Big Sky Championships in Bozeman in November and led the Bobcats across the line at the NCAA Mountain Regionals two weeks later with a 42nd-place finish. He scored in all five meets and led the Bobcats across the finish line twice, highlighted by a first-place finish in the Bobcat Twilight 5k to open the season. Ells impressed during the indoor track & field season, earning a pair of bronze medals in the 3,000-meter run and 5,000m at the Big Sky Championships while adding a victory in the 3,000m at the Carignan Classic. Ells is a seven-time All-Big Sky performer in his career across track & field and cross country, highlighted by his 2023 Big Sky indoor title in the distance medley relay, and appears seven times on Montana State's all-time top-10 list. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and has a 3.66 GPA.
Gandolfi enjoyed an impressive senior season that saw her earn Honorable Mention All-America honors with her 21st-place result in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, along with a Big Sky title in the 4x400m during the indoor and outdoor seasons. A Big Sky silver medalist in the 400m hurdles outdoors and a bronze medalist in the 400m indoors, Gandolfi helped reset the 4x400m school record three times during the outdoor season after toppling the program record indoors earlier in the year. Gandolfi competed in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay at the NCAA West Regionals while advancing to the national championship meet in Eugene, Ore., as part of the 4x400m relay squad. She capped off her career with back-to-back Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 4x400m, two Big Sky titles, 10 all-conference performances, 14 appearances on the Montana State all-time top-10 list, eight appearances on the Big Sky all-time top-10 list, and a conference record in the indoor 4x400m. Gandolfi graduated from Montana State with bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Economics this spring, concluding her academic career with an impressive 3.98 GPA.
Hawkes concluded her Bobcat career as one of the most decorated sprinters in Montana State history, rewriting six school records across the indoor and outdoor season while adding Big Sky titles in the 400m and 4x400m during both seasons. An Honorable Mention All-American as part of the 4x400m relay team outdoors, Hawkes added a silver medal in the 200m and a bronze medal in the 4x100m outdoors, as well as a fifth-place result in the 200m indoors at the Big Sky Championships. Over the course of her career, Hawkes compiled two Honorable Mention All-America honors in the outdoor 4x400m, three appearances at the NCAA West Regionals, four Big Sky titles, 16 all-conference honors, 18 appearances on the Montana State all-time top-10 list, and 11 Big Sky all-time top-10 marks, including a conference record in the indoor 4x400m. Hawkes graduated with honors from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition Science, posting a 3.89 GPA.
McManus concluded his stellar career as a Bobcat with an Honorable Mention All-America honor in the 3,000m steeplechase. He earned his third-straight Big Sky title in the event in May and was named the Men's Most Outstanding Performer at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships thanks to his championship-winning performance. McManus also swept sixth place in the 5,000m at the indoor and outdoor conference championship meets to accumulate three scoring performances this season. In his five-year career, McManus was a three-time All-American in the steeplechase with an honorable mention nod in 2026, also adding a second-team honor in the indoor mile. He was a nine-time All-Big Sky performer across track and cross country and ranks second in program history and fourth in Big Sky history in the 3,000m steeplechase, as well as second in MSU history in the mile. He appears on the Montana State all-time top-10 list eight times. McManus graduated from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Earth Science - Geography, earning a 3.58 GPA.
Motley advanced to her first career NCAA West Regional meet as the No. 43 competitor nationally in the 3,000m steeplechase during the 2026 outdoor season. She placed fifth in the event at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 10:15.52, which vaulted her to third in Montana State history. She also competed in three cross country meets this season, posting a season-best result of 11th place at the Bobcat Twilight to open the season. In her two-year career, the sophomore has scored twice at the Big Sky Championships – once in the steeplechase and once in the 1,500m – and appears on Montana State's all-time top-10 list once. Motley is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and has a 3.95 GPA.
Siana earned All-Big Sky honors in the 5,000m outdoors while adding a fifth-place result in the 10,000m at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships this season. She placed 34th in the 10,000m at the NCAA West Regional while posting the No. 4 10,000m and the No. 5 5,000m time in program history during the 2026 outdoor campaign. She clocked the 10th-fastest 5,000m time in program history at the Big Sky Indoor Championships to place fifth and score for the Bobcats… During the cross country season, she was Montana State's top finisher at the NCAA Mountain Regional (43rd) and took 11th place at the Big Sky Championships. She scored in all five meets for the Bobcats, while crossing the finish line first for Montana State four times. Siana is majoring in Pre-Nursing at Montana State and has a cumulative 3.75 GPA.
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State track & field program, follow the Bobcats on Twitter and Instagram at @MSUBobcatsTFXC. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on Twitter at @MSUBobcats, Instagram at @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
Montana State's 2025-26 honorees include Sam Ells and Rob McManus on the men's side and Hailey Coey, Giulia Gandolfi, Caroline Hawkes, Niamh Motley, and Madi Siana on the women's side. The CSC Academic All-District team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined academic and athletic performances. All-District honorees must hold a 3.50 cumulative GPA and have earned a top-50 regional ranking in a single event in track & field or a top-50 individual performance at the 2025 regional cross country meet during the 2025-26 season. Coey, Gandolfi, Hawkes, and McManus were also selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists, with First-, Second-, and Third-Team Academic All-America honorees set to be announced on July 14 for the men and July 15 for the women.
A Second-Team All-American indoors in 2025-26, Coey placed 11th in the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships to cap off a stellar season that included a Big Sky title in the long jump and a fourth-place finish in the triple jump. She was named the Big Sky Women's Most Outstanding Performer for her long jump performance at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, adding to a record-breaking indoor campaign that featured a school and conference record in the long jump, a school record in the triple jump, seven total event wins, and three Big Sky Women's Field Athlete of the Week honors. Also a 2025 Honorable Mention All-American in the long jump outdoors, Coey is a two-time Big Sky champion, three-time all-conference performer, and 11-time scorer at the Big Sky Championships over the course of her career, while holding school records in the indoor and outdoor long jump, as well as the indoor triple jump. Coey graduated with the highest honors from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Finance. She completed her degree with a 3.93 cumulative GPA.
Ells earned 2025 All-Big Sky honors in cross country thanks to his 10th-place finish at the Big Sky Championships in Bozeman in November and led the Bobcats across the line at the NCAA Mountain Regionals two weeks later with a 42nd-place finish. He scored in all five meets and led the Bobcats across the finish line twice, highlighted by a first-place finish in the Bobcat Twilight 5k to open the season. Ells impressed during the indoor track & field season, earning a pair of bronze medals in the 3,000-meter run and 5,000m at the Big Sky Championships while adding a victory in the 3,000m at the Carignan Classic. Ells is a seven-time All-Big Sky performer in his career across track & field and cross country, highlighted by his 2023 Big Sky indoor title in the distance medley relay, and appears seven times on Montana State's all-time top-10 list. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and has a 3.66 GPA.
Gandolfi enjoyed an impressive senior season that saw her earn Honorable Mention All-America honors with her 21st-place result in the 4x400m relay at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, along with a Big Sky title in the 4x400m during the indoor and outdoor seasons. A Big Sky silver medalist in the 400m hurdles outdoors and a bronze medalist in the 400m indoors, Gandolfi helped reset the 4x400m school record three times during the outdoor season after toppling the program record indoors earlier in the year. Gandolfi competed in the 400m hurdles and the 4x400m relay at the NCAA West Regionals while advancing to the national championship meet in Eugene, Ore., as part of the 4x400m relay squad. She capped off her career with back-to-back Honorable Mention All-America honors in the 4x400m, two Big Sky titles, 10 all-conference performances, 14 appearances on the Montana State all-time top-10 list, eight appearances on the Big Sky all-time top-10 list, and a conference record in the indoor 4x400m. Gandolfi graduated from Montana State with bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Economics this spring, concluding her academic career with an impressive 3.98 GPA.
Hawkes concluded her Bobcat career as one of the most decorated sprinters in Montana State history, rewriting six school records across the indoor and outdoor season while adding Big Sky titles in the 400m and 4x400m during both seasons. An Honorable Mention All-American as part of the 4x400m relay team outdoors, Hawkes added a silver medal in the 200m and a bronze medal in the 4x100m outdoors, as well as a fifth-place result in the 200m indoors at the Big Sky Championships. Over the course of her career, Hawkes compiled two Honorable Mention All-America honors in the outdoor 4x400m, three appearances at the NCAA West Regionals, four Big Sky titles, 16 all-conference honors, 18 appearances on the Montana State all-time top-10 list, and 11 Big Sky all-time top-10 marks, including a conference record in the indoor 4x400m. Hawkes graduated with honors from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition Science, posting a 3.89 GPA.
McManus concluded his stellar career as a Bobcat with an Honorable Mention All-America honor in the 3,000m steeplechase. He earned his third-straight Big Sky title in the event in May and was named the Men's Most Outstanding Performer at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships thanks to his championship-winning performance. McManus also swept sixth place in the 5,000m at the indoor and outdoor conference championship meets to accumulate three scoring performances this season. In his five-year career, McManus was a three-time All-American in the steeplechase with an honorable mention nod in 2026, also adding a second-team honor in the indoor mile. He was a nine-time All-Big Sky performer across track and cross country and ranks second in program history and fourth in Big Sky history in the 3,000m steeplechase, as well as second in MSU history in the mile. He appears on the Montana State all-time top-10 list eight times. McManus graduated from Montana State this spring with a bachelor's degree in Earth Science - Geography, earning a 3.58 GPA.
Motley advanced to her first career NCAA West Regional meet as the No. 43 competitor nationally in the 3,000m steeplechase during the 2026 outdoor season. She placed fifth in the event at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships with a personal-best time of 10:15.52, which vaulted her to third in Montana State history. She also competed in three cross country meets this season, posting a season-best result of 11th place at the Bobcat Twilight to open the season. In her two-year career, the sophomore has scored twice at the Big Sky Championships – once in the steeplechase and once in the 1,500m – and appears on Montana State's all-time top-10 list once. Motley is pursuing a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and has a 3.95 GPA.
Siana earned All-Big Sky honors in the 5,000m outdoors while adding a fifth-place result in the 10,000m at the Big Sky Outdoor Championships this season. She placed 34th in the 10,000m at the NCAA West Regional while posting the No. 4 10,000m and the No. 5 5,000m time in program history during the 2026 outdoor campaign. She clocked the 10th-fastest 5,000m time in program history at the Big Sky Indoor Championships to place fifth and score for the Bobcats… During the cross country season, she was Montana State's top finisher at the NCAA Mountain Regional (43rd) and took 11th place at the Big Sky Championships. She scored in all five meets for the Bobcats, while crossing the finish line first for Montana State four times. Siana is majoring in Pre-Nursing at Montana State and has a cumulative 3.75 GPA.
Follow the Bobcats
For the latest news, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage of the Montana State track & field program, follow the Bobcats on Twitter and Instagram at @MSUBobcatsTFXC. Information on the Montana State athletic program can be found online at msubobcats.com or by following the Bobcats on Twitter at @MSUBobcats, Instagram at @MontanaStateBobcats, and on Facebook at Montana State Bobcats.
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