Huskers Lead USTFCCCA All-Academic Lists

Lincoln ? With the recent release of the men’s and women’s All-Academic teams by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the Nebraska track and field teams once again showed that their success on the track continues into the classroom. The Huskers led the nation with the most honorees on both the men’s and women’s lists, as the women led the way with 19 award winners, while the men added another 16.

 

The Husker women were led by Natalja Callahan, Rachel Carrizales and Joslyn Dalton, all of which picked up their third career USTFCCCA All-Academic honor. Six others earned the second honor of their careers, including Rachel Butler, Lara Crofford, Arna Erega, Lindsey Maher, Samantha Musil and Natalie Willer. First-time honorees were, Rachel Birtles, Blaire Dinsdale, Jessica Furlan, Erica Hamik, Cami Jiskra, Tara Korshoj, Ashley Miller, Lisa Minnick, Jen Webers and Megan Wheatley.

 

Three members of the Husker men’s team also earned the third honor of their career, with Chris Nuttelman, Dan Christensen and Keith Lloyd leading the way. Five other Huskers also earned the second All-Academic honor of their career, including David Adams, Patrick Burke, Adam Dailey, Nicholas Gordon and Eric Lund. Kyle Custer, Dale Ervin, Luke Franssen, Tyler Hitchler, Scott Jorgenson, Blaise Rewaka, Eric Petersen and Nate Polacek were all picked for the first time in their careers.

 

More impressively, of the 15 Husker men and women that earned All-Academic honors last season and returned to compete this season, all 15 were once again honored in 2009.

 

A record total of 531 student-athletes representing 146 Division I institutions composed the women’s 2009 All-Academic team, while the men also set a record with of 327 student-athletes honored, representing 107 Division I institutions.

 

Following Nebraska’s nation-leading 19 selections on the women’s side, Brigham Young University and the University of Oregon followed with 16 student-athletes each on the All-Academic team.  Just like on the women’s side, the Huskers’ 16 picks on the men’s side were followed by Brigham Young University with 12 student-athletes and the University of Oregon with 11 student-athletes on the team.

 

For the women, the Pacific-10 Conference led all conferences with 56 selections, with the Big 12 Conference following closely with 50 selections. The Southeastern Conference had 48 women’s student-athletes earn All-Academic honors.

 

On the men’s side, the Big 12 Conference led all conferences with 46 selections, with the Pacific-10 Conference following closely with 42 selections. The Mountain West Conference had 28 men’s student-athletes earn All-Academic honors.

 

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.