BOSTON, Mass. (December 12, 2025) – The Emerson College women's cross country program has placed five of its student-athletes on the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference Team for their efforts in the classroom the Conference announced.
Seniors Na'Lea Curiel and Olivia Kardos headline Emerson's NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honorees by earning the recognition for the third straight year. Classmate Yasmin Defne Dadikhi has been named to the Academic All-Conference team for the second time, while junior Nicole Armstrong and sophomore Noor Al-Sonbaty earn the recognition for the first time.
The NEWMAC named a total of 82 women's cross country student-athletes to its Academic All-Conference team. Honorees must have earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5/4.0 scale or 4.35/5.0 scale after the 2025 spring semester, achieved second year academic status at their institution, and been a member of the varsity team for the entire season.
Earning Academic All-Conference honors for Emerson are:
Sophomore Noor Al-Sonbaty *
Junior Nicole Armstrong *
Senior Na'Lea Curiel ***
Senior Yasmin Defne Dadikhi **
Senior Olivia Kardos ***
*-Number of NEWMAC Academic All-Conference selections over career
Defne Dadikhi made history in leading Emerson during its 2025 season by becoming the first in program history to earn All-America honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association with her 33rd place finish at the NCAA Division III Championships in Spartanburg, South Carolina, after recording program-best finishes at the NCAA III East Regional and NEWMAC Championships. The Lions turned in an 11th place finish as a team at the NEWMAC Championships and 19th at the East Regional.
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