Track and Field teams earn academic awards from the USTFCCCA

08/04/2010 | 12:00:00 | Track and Field

Aug. 4, 2010

www.SIUSalukis.com

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced that both the men's and women's Southern Illinois track and field teams earned All-Academic Team honors.

In addition to both teams being honored, 15 Salukis were named members of the men's and women's 2010 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. All 15 were indoor automatic or provisional qualifiers or outdoor regional qualifiers in their respective events.

Gwen Berry, Olga Ciura, Tredene Davis, Kimberly Fortney, Meredith Hayes, Megan Hoelscher, Malaikah Love, Miracle Thompson and Toni Whitfield were honored on the women's side. For the men, Jake Deiters, Daniel Dunbar, Jason Ordway, Collin Otto, Joe Paradiso and Ryan Shumaker earned the honor.

A record total of 357 student-athletes representing 118 institutions compose the group on the men's All-Academic team and 551 student-athletes representing 150 institutions on the women's side.

The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.

The women's team was one of 151 teams to be honored and carried a 3.22 cumulative grade point average for the 2009-10 school year. The men's team carried a 3.15 cumulative GPA and was one of 73 teams honored.

The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Teams of the Year award is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievements, with the top honor going to the team that had the combination of best overall finish at the respective Division I Indoor or Outdoor National Championships and cumulative GPA.

To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade-point average.