Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Ukabam, Rinker named to academic all-district teams
06/01/2006 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field
June 1, 2006
www.siusalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois University landed two athletes on the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District women's track & field/cross country teams. Saluki thrower Amarachi Ukabam was named to the District V first team, while distance runner Sarah Rinker was named to the second team.
Ukabam earned first-team honors, maintaining a 3.72 grade point average in health education. The senior is a five-time All-American since transferring to SIU from Ohio State in 2004. Most recently, she became the 2006 Mideast Regional shot put and discus champion, advancing to the NCAA National Championships. The Maryland Heights, Mo. is a six-time Missouri Valley Conference champion, owning the SIU and conference records in the indoor shot put and outdoor shot put and discus.
Rinker was placed on the District V second team with a 3.93 GPA in social work. A three-time All-MVC pick in track and a 2005 All-MVC honoree in cross country, the junior advanced to regionals in both sports in 2005. The Pontiac, Ill. native holds the school record in the indoor 5,000-meter run and is second all-time in the outdoor 5,000. Rinker has also been honored as a four-time MVC Scholar-Athlete.
To qualify for nomination, each student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have reached sophomore athletic or academic standing. Each athlete must also compete in at least 50 percent of each team's competitions. All first-team all-district athletes will be eligible for Academic All-American honors.
District 5 Winners - University Division
FIRST TEAM
Stacey Cowan, NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF, Sr., Ferndale, Wash., 3.79, Pre-professional studies
Sara O'Mara, ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF AT CHICAGO, Sr., Hinsdale, Ill., 4.00, Pre-Elementary Education
Maryann Erigha, NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF, Jr., Stone Mountain, Ga., 3.79, Sociology and Computer Applications
Amarachi Ukabam, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, Sr., Maryland Heights, Mo., 3.72, Health Education
Jill Scully, BALL STATE UNIVERSITY, Gr., Valparaiso, Ind., 3.53, Mathematics Education
Cassie Hunt, ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF, Jr., Roachdale, Ind., 3.62, Sport Management
Liz Podominick, MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF, So., Lakeville, Minn., 3.91, Sociology
Amber Ferner, PURDUE UNIVERSITY, Gr., West Lafayette, Ind., 3.63, Veterinary Medicine
Katrina Rundhaug, WISCONSIN-MADISON, UNIVERSITY OF, Jr., Dodgeville, Wis., 3.4, Nursing
Stephanie Madia, NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF, Sr., Wexford, Pa., 3.48, Finance
SECOND TEAM
Terri Emond, MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, Sr., Wyoming, Minn., 3.90, Chemistry
Rachel Hansen, LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, IL., So., Omaha, Neb., 3.93, Biology
Sarah Rinker, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, Jr., Pontiac, Ill., 3.93, Social Work
Audra Bark, WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, Sr., DeWitt, Iowa, 3.78, Human Resource Management
Erin Downes, WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, Sr., Wheaton, Ill., 3.92, Biology
Melissa Jay, WESTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, So., Ottumwa, Iowa, 4.00, Biology
Emily Brown, MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF, Jr., West Allis, Wis., 3.46, Nutrition
Andrea Lang, WISCONSIN-MADISON, UNIVERSITY OF, Gr., Lorton, Va., 3.59, Atmospheric and oceanic sciences
Genni Gardner, BUTLER UNIVERSITY, So., Bramley, U.K., 3.90, Communications Disorders
Yolanda Wright, INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, Sr., Bartonville, Ill., 3.50, Chemistry
Yvonne Mensah, ILLINOIS, UNIVERSITY OF, Jr., Surrey, British Columbia, 3.29, Biology
