AMHERST, Mass. - Six members of the Amherst Women's Cross Country and Track and Field teams were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, it was announced last week. Sophomore Flora Biro (Louisville, Ky.), junior Héloïse Hughes (Geneva, Switzerland), senior captain Piper Lentz (Sparks, Md.), junior Zoë Marcus (Fairport, N.Y.), senior captain Myeh Medina (New York, N.Y.), and sophomore Ava Thomas (Haddonfield, N.J.) were a part of this year's selections.

Formerly known as the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA), the CSC divides the NCAA institutions into nine geographic districts, with Amherst being located in District One. To be nominated, student-athletes must be a significant contributor to their team with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at their current institution. In Cross Country/Track & Field, nominees must be ranked among the Top 50 in the region in at least one event (cross country, indoor or outdoor). 

Biro, a geology and political science double major, earns her first All-District recognition in her sophomore season in the Pioneer Valley. She was ranked in the 1,500 meters at 17th (4:41.05), tenth in the 5,000 meters (17:03.00), 22nd in the 10,000 meters (37:52.03), and 12th in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (11:14.46) this outdoor season. Biro ranked 14th in the mile (5:02.88), 13th in the 3,000 meters (10:01.73), and third in the distance medley relay (11:37.97) this indoor season. She was part of the distance medley relay team that went to the NCAA Indoor Championships and finished seventh in the race earning All-American First Team. Biro earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition for her participation on the distance medley relay team. In the cross country season, she earned All-Region honors for finishing 15th in the region, and All-NESCAC Second team for her 11th finish at the NESCAC Championships.

Hughes, a neuroscience major, picked up her second straight All-District recognition in her junior year in Amherst. She earned All-American Second Team recognition in her 14th place finish at the NCAA Championship in long jump (5.61 meters). Hughes ranked second in the region in the 100 meters (12.00), fourth in the 200 meters (24.77), first on the 4x100 relay team (46.99), and third in long jump (5.81 meters). She picked up All-NESCAC and USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the 200 meters, long jump, and 4x100 relay and All-Region recognition in the 100 meters in the outdoor season. Hughes finished the indoor season ranked fourth in the region in both the 60 meters (7.76) and the 200 meters (24.72). She earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition for both the 60 meters and the 200 meters.

Lentz, an astronomy and physics double major, picked up her second straight All-District recognition in her final year with the Mammoths. She was ranked 13th in the region in the 400 meters (58.22) and third in the region in the 800 meters (2:10.51). Lentz earned All-NESCAC recognition in the 4x800 relay and USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the 800 meters this past outdoor season. She was a part of the distance medley relay team that finished seventh in the NCAA Indoor Championships and earned All-American First Team honors and finished 12th in her 800 meter race, earning herself All-American Second Team. Lentz ranked third in the region in the 800 meters (2:11.46), eighth in the mile (4:58.65), fourth on the 4x400 relay (3:56.71), and third on the distance medley relay (11:37.97). She earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the indoor season for 800 meters, 4x400 relay, and distance medley relay.

Marcus, a computer science and physics double major, earned her first All-District accolade in her junior year with Amherst. She ranked sixth in the region in the 800 meters (2:11.56) and ninth in the 1,500 meters (4:34.71). Marcus earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition this outdoor season in the 800 meters. She appeared on the national stage for the Mammoths on the distance medley relay team that earned All-American First Team honors for their seventh place finish and in the 800 meters where she finished fifth overall and earned All-American First Team honors and secured a new school record of 2:10.92. Marcus ranked fourth in the region in the 800 meters (2:11.96), 25th in the mile (5:08.61), fourth on the 4x400 relay (3:56.71), and third on the distance medley relay (11:37.97). She earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the 800 meters, 4x400 relay, and the distance medley relay.

Medina, a computer science major, receives her third straight All-District nod in her final year in the Pioneer Valley. She competed in the 400 meter Hurdles where she finished ninth and advanced to the finals. Medina finished the outdoor season ranked ninth in the region in the 200 meters (25.28), fifth in the 100 meter hurdles (14.41), first in the region in the 400 meter hurdles (1:00.08), and fifth in the 4x400 relay (3:54.76). She racked up the accolades this outdoor season where she was named All-NESCAC and USTFCCCA All-Region in the 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles and All-Region in the 4x400 relay. Medina went to the NCAA Indoor Championships and earned All-American First Team recognition for her contribution in the distance medley relay that finished in seventh. She finished the indoor season ranked fifth in the 400 meters (57.39), third in the 60 meter hurdles (8.93), fourth in the 4x400 relay (3:56.71) and third in the distance medley relay (11:37.97). Medina earned USTFCCCA All-Region recognition in the 60 meter hurdles, 400 meters, 4x400 relay, and the distance medley relay.

Thomas, an economics and film and media studies double major, received her first All-District accolade in her sophomore year with the Mammoths. She finished the outdoor season ranked 46th in the 5,000 meters (18:11.42). Thomas finished the indoor season ranked 17th in the 3,000 meters (10:07.37) and ninth in the 5,000 meters (17:33.18). In the cross country season, she earned All-Region honors for finishing 31st in regionals.