Rice University Athletics
Women’s Track & Field has Six Named CSC Academic All-District
6/25/2026 8:01:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
HOUSTON – Rice women's track and field athletes Julia Johannesdottir, Barbora Malíková, Savannah Simms, Alice Taylor, Josie Taylor and Mckyla Van der Westhuizen have been named Academic All-District by the College Sports Communicators, the organization announced.
Johannesdottir holds a 3.61 GPA, majoring in Environmental Engineering. She was a USTFCCCA All-Academic and an American Conference All-Academic last season. Johannesdottir ran the 100m hurdles at the NCAA Championships, finishing 23rd. She finished second in the heptathlon and fourth in the 100m hurdles at the American Championships.
Malikova is earning a graduate degree in Architecture and currently has a 3.91 GPA. She has earned USTFCCCA and ACC Academic honors throughout her career. This season, Malikova claimed three American Conference titles in the 400m (indoor and outdoor) and the indoor 4x400, while finishing in second in the outdoor 4x400. Malikova represented Rice at the NCAA West Prelims in the 400m and the 4x400.
Josie Taylor has a 3.92 GPA and earned her master's degree in Earth, Environment and Planetary Science this season. She is a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and a two-time American Conference All-Academic. Taylor was third in the high jump at the American Indoor Championships, while also finishing sixth at the outdoor championships.
Alice Taylor graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology with a 3.86 GPA. She is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree and was a member of the CSC Academic All-District Team last season. Taylor represented Rice at the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon and won the same event at the American Championships.
Simms is earning a Master of Global Affairs degree and currently holds a 4.00 GPA. Simms is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and a two-time American Conference All-Academic. This season, Simms won the triple jump at the American Championships and qualified for the NCAA West Prelims in the same event.
Van der Westhuizen graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology with a 3.75 GPA. She is a CSC Academic All-American, a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and an American Scholar Athlete of the Year. At the NCAA Championships, Van der Westhuizen was a National Champion in the javelin, winning with a school record throw of 60.87m. She was named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.
Johannesdottir holds a 3.61 GPA, majoring in Environmental Engineering. She was a USTFCCCA All-Academic and an American Conference All-Academic last season. Johannesdottir ran the 100m hurdles at the NCAA Championships, finishing 23rd. She finished second in the heptathlon and fourth in the 100m hurdles at the American Championships.
Malikova is earning a graduate degree in Architecture and currently has a 3.91 GPA. She has earned USTFCCCA and ACC Academic honors throughout her career. This season, Malikova claimed three American Conference titles in the 400m (indoor and outdoor) and the indoor 4x400, while finishing in second in the outdoor 4x400. Malikova represented Rice at the NCAA West Prelims in the 400m and the 4x400.
Josie Taylor has a 3.92 GPA and earned her master's degree in Earth, Environment and Planetary Science this season. She is a four-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and a two-time American Conference All-Academic. Taylor was third in the high jump at the American Indoor Championships, while also finishing sixth at the outdoor championships.
Alice Taylor graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology with a 3.86 GPA. She is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honoree and was a member of the CSC Academic All-District Team last season. Taylor represented Rice at the NCAA Championships in the heptathlon and won the same event at the American Championships.
Simms is earning a Master of Global Affairs degree and currently holds a 4.00 GPA. Simms is a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and a two-time American Conference All-Academic. This season, Simms won the triple jump at the American Championships and qualified for the NCAA West Prelims in the same event.
Van der Westhuizen graduated with a degree in Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology with a 3.75 GPA. She is a CSC Academic All-American, a three-time USTFCCCA All-Academic and an American Scholar Athlete of the Year. At the NCAA Championships, Van der Westhuizen was a National Champion in the javelin, winning with a school record throw of 60.87m. She was named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Field Athlete of the Year.
Players Mentioned
Multis
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Jumps/Multis
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Jumps
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