Austin, Texas - The 2025 Academic All-America NAIA Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), have been announced. 

Central Methodist senior thrower Colder Evans was named to the Academic All-America First Team, the first time in his career. He is just one of 11 athletes in the NAIA to earn First Team honors.

The senior from Unionville, Missouri, is a Business major at Central with a 3.55 GPA. He was a 2025 All-American in the indoor shot put after placing sixth with a toss of 16.65 meters. During the outdoor season, he was named the USTFCCCA South Central Regional Men's Field Athlete of the Year. He qualified for nationals in the discus, hammer, and shot put and was nationally ranked in the Top 20 in both the discus and hammer. 

He finishes his career as a two-time NAIA All-American. 

The Academic All-America program celebrates college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. The all-time list of 42,000+ Academic All-Americans includes major sports stars and some of the world's most accomplished individuals in medicine, business, science, and the arts.

Established in 1952 and selected by College Sports Communicators, Academic All-America is the longest-running and premier award for athletic and academic success across championship college sports at all NCAA levels, the NAIA, two-year colleges, and Canadian institutions. Teams are announced year-round and amplified by CSC member colleges, universities, and conferences on a wide local, regional, national, and even international scope. 

To view additional information about the Academic All-America program, please see below. 

• Outstanding student-athletes are nominated for Academic All-District® recognition by athletic communications directors and must have a minimum 3.50 GPA and meet high athletic standards. (approximately 30,000 nominations annually)
• A select group of student-athletes advances to the national ballot, where CSC members vote on Academic All-America teams. (approximately 2,000 selections annually)
• An Academic All-American of the Year is selected in each sport and division. (66 recipients)
• An Overall Academic All-America Team Member of the Year is selected as the top student-athlete across all sports in each NCAA and NAIA division. (4 recipients)

To view the CSC release on the 2025 Academic All-America NAIA Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, please click here.

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