Paige & Strand Named ACC Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athletes Of The Year

Cover Image for Ethan Strand and Makayla Paige's ACC Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year Award

Paige & Strand Named ACC Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athletes Of The Year

April 29, 2025 | Track & Field, Academics

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Seniors Ethan Strand and Makayla Paige were named the Men's and Women's Indoor Track Scholar-Athletes of the Year by the Atlantic Coast Conference on Tuesday, April 29. Track and Field had 21 student-athletes earn All-ACC Academic honors.

This also marks the first time that one program has earned both ACC Indoor Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year honorees since Virginia Tech in 2017.

Strand is studying Exercise and Sport Science and had a 3.86 GPA last fall. Strand has been named to the All-ACC Academic Team five times for either cross country or track and field.

Paige is studying Geology and had a 3.608 GPA last fall. The senior has been named to the All-ACC Academic Team four times for either cross country or track and field.

Paige and Strand were named the ACC Indoor Track Performers of the Year for their record setting 2025 season.

Strand opened the season by setting two NCAA records in his first two races. He is the only student-athlete to set the NCAA record in the mile (3:48.32) and the 3000m (7:30.15) in the same year. Strand won the ACC title in the men's 5000m, setting the meet record (13:26.60). Strand was part of the national runner-up DMR American Indoor Record (9:17.17), earning first-team All-American honors. He followed that up by winning the national championship in the men's 3000m (7:52.03). The senior was named the Divison 1 National Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.

Paige scored all women's points for UNC at the National Championship, winning in the women's 800m. During her win, she also set the facility record. Paige (2:00.39) led the entire way despite getting clipped in the back of the leg. Paige lowered her school record 800m time. She was also the third-place finisher in the ACC Championship.

Women's All-ACC Academic Teams

Ella Auderset, Environmental Sciences
Reese Dalton, Exercise and Sport Science
Alyssa Hernandez, Exercise and Sport Science
Megan Kelleghan, Exercise and Sport Science
Maddy Kelley, Neuroscience
Delea Martins, Undecided
Harley McNeal, Psychology
Makayla Paige, Geological Sciences
Cassidy Scott, Exercise and Sport Science
Logan St. John-Kletter, Exercise and Sport Science
Kalani Witherspoon, Exercise and Sport Science

Men's All-ACC Academic Teams
Mac Conwell, Biology
Will Coogan, Biology
Trevor Paschall, Biology
Nick Pennington, Physics
Ethan Richter, Economics
Colton Sands, Geological Sciences
Paul Signorelli, Computer Science
Nick Steed, Undecided
Ethan Strand, Exercise and Sport Science
Parker Wolfe, Exercise and Sport Science