USTFCCCA Places Eight Jayhawks on All-Academic Lists
Aug. 4, 2011
Lawrence Kansas –
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday that eight members of the 2011 Kansas track and field team were named to the All-Academic Honorees list. A total of 420 student-athletes representing 153 institutions composed the group with the Big 12 Conference leading all leagues with 45 earning All-Academic honors.
Four KU men were named to the list, which included departing senior pole vaulters Jordan Scott and Cooper Merrill, both of which maintained above a 3.25 GPA for the year. Scott and Merrill were both constants on the top-100 list during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, with Scott taking home the 2011 Outdoor Big 12 title. Other men to earn the honor included sophomore thrower Mason Finley and freshman runner Dalen Fink. Finley, who majors in theatre, maintained a GPA above 3.50 for the year, while also claiming the Outdoor Big 12 title in the shot put and spending the majority of the season ranked as the No. 1 shot putter in the NCAA. Fink also maintained a GPA that was above a 3.50 with his mechanical engineering major. The O’Fallon, Mo., native was a member of the 4×400 meter relay team that placed 18th at the NCAA West Preliminary meet in May.
Four athletes on the women’s side, all of whom maintained GPA’s above a 3.50 received honors as well. Seniors Julia Cummings and Jaci Perryman, both of whom majored in sports and exercise science, were the top female pole vaulters for the Jayhawks on the season, both ranking in the top 75 in the NCAA by season’s end. Junior runner Rebeka Stowe also found her name on the honorees list. The Olathe, Kan., native who majors in physical education, was an Outdoor First Team All-American in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase and broke the school record in the event earlier in the season. Rounding out the women’s list was sophomore thrower Heather Bergmann, who majors in chemistry. Bergmann broke the school record in the javelin throw while also earning First Team All-American honors at the NCAA Championship meet in June.
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 of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).
