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Women’s Track & Field has Four Named CSC Academic All-District
6/24/2025 12:14:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
HOUSTON – Rice women's track and field athletes Saniya Friendly, Riana Green, Alice Taylor and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen have been named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators, the organization announced.
Friendly, a junior from Schertz, Texas, has a 3.59 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She is a 2025 Rice Honor Athlete, while also being named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and a 2023 CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree. Friendly was the runner-up in the 100m at the 2025 AAC Outdoor Championship, earning All-Conference honors and advanced to the NCAA West Prelims for the event. She also claimed second at the AAC indoor meet for the 60m.
Green, a sophomore from Toronto, Canada, currently holds a 3.55 GPA, majoring in sports management. She was named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and earns her first CSC recognition. Green finished eighth in the 400m at the 2025 AAC Outdoor Championships, also finishing sixth in the 4x100m. Green advanced to the NCAA West Prelims this season for the 400m. At the AAC indoor meet, Green's DMR team finished first, earning her first All-Conference honor of her career.
Taylor, a sophomore from Cambridge, New Zealand, has a 3.81 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She is a 2025 Rice Honor Athlete and is a 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic and 2024 AAC All-Academic. Taylor earned Honorable Mention All-American honors after tying for 23rd at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She was fourth at the AAC outdoor meet and third at the AAC indoor meet this season. Taylor finished ninth in the nation for the high jump last season at the NCAA Championships.
Van der Westhuizen, a junior from Gauteng, South Africa, currently holds a 3.77 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She was a 2024 CSC Academic Second Team All-American, while also being named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and a 2023 USTFCCA All-Academic. Van der Westhuizen collected her third athletic All-American honor this season, finishing seventh in the javelin at the NCAA Championships. The honor marked back-to-back First Team All-American honors for Van der Westhuizen. She also defended her conference title at the AAC Championships, earning her third All-Conference honor.
To earn a spot on the CSC Academic All-District team, athletes must hold a 3.5 GPA (sophomores and up) and also rank in the top 50 of their region for track and field or cross country.
Friendly, a junior from Schertz, Texas, has a 3.59 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She is a 2025 Rice Honor Athlete, while also being named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and a 2023 CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll honoree. Friendly was the runner-up in the 100m at the 2025 AAC Outdoor Championship, earning All-Conference honors and advanced to the NCAA West Prelims for the event. She also claimed second at the AAC indoor meet for the 60m.
Green, a sophomore from Toronto, Canada, currently holds a 3.55 GPA, majoring in sports management. She was named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and earns her first CSC recognition. Green finished eighth in the 400m at the 2025 AAC Outdoor Championships, also finishing sixth in the 4x100m. Green advanced to the NCAA West Prelims this season for the 400m. At the AAC indoor meet, Green's DMR team finished first, earning her first All-Conference honor of her career.
Taylor, a sophomore from Cambridge, New Zealand, has a 3.81 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She is a 2025 Rice Honor Athlete and is a 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic and 2024 AAC All-Academic. Taylor earned Honorable Mention All-American honors after tying for 23rd at the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. She was fourth at the AAC outdoor meet and third at the AAC indoor meet this season. Taylor finished ninth in the nation for the high jump last season at the NCAA Championships.
Van der Westhuizen, a junior from Gauteng, South Africa, currently holds a 3.77 GPA, majoring in sports medicine. She was a 2024 CSC Academic Second Team All-American, while also being named a 2024 AAC All-Academic and a 2023 USTFCCA All-Academic. Van der Westhuizen collected her third athletic All-American honor this season, finishing seventh in the javelin at the NCAA Championships. The honor marked back-to-back First Team All-American honors for Van der Westhuizen. She also defended her conference title at the AAC Championships, earning her third All-Conference honor.
To earn a spot on the CSC Academic All-District team, athletes must hold a 3.5 GPA (sophomores and up) and also rank in the top 50 of their region for track and field or cross country.
Players Mentioned
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
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