Madelyn Miller-Ross of UIS women's cross country and track has been named the UIS Female Athlete of the Year for 2025-26. The back-to-back recipient becomes just the second student-athlete in UIS Athletics history to earn the honor twice, joining former women's basketball standout Lauren Ladowski.

Miller-Ross won GLVC titles across all three seasons of her senior year, capturing the cross country championship in the fall, the indoor 3,000 meters in the winter and the outdoor 10,000 meters in the spring. She earned First-Team All-America honors in the indoor 5,000 meters, set a GLVC Championship meet record in the indoor 3,000 meters with a time of 9:41.03 and posted the top outdoor 5,000-meter time in the Midwest Region.

Beyond her individual success, Miller-Ross helped lead UIS women's cross country to a program-best third-place finish at the GLVC Championship.

In four years at UIS, Miller-Ross demonstrated remarkable progression and excellence in her sport. From a 60th-place finish at the GLVC Cross Country Championship as a freshman in 2022, she ascended to become GLVC Champion and Runner of the Year in fall 2025. Her career includes five consecutive appearances at national championships across cross country and track and field, highlighted by a senior year that included qualification for cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track nationals.

Miller-Ross earned seven All-GLVC honors and 10 All-Region selections—three in cross country and seven in track and field—throughout her career. She concluded her collegiate career with program records in the indoor mile, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters, as well as the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters.

In the classroom, Miller-Ross has been recognized as a three-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection and earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in every season she was eligible. During her senior year, she also balanced her athletic and academic commitments while completing her student teaching requirements as part of her degree in elementary education.

As the 2025-26 UIS Female Athlete of the Year, Miller-Ross joins a distinguished group of Prairie Stars recognized for excellence in competition and lasting impact on their programs. Her commemorative poster will be displayed inside The Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) during the 2026-27 academic year, honoring a student-athlete that helped elevate UIS cross country and track and field.