Huskers Lead Academic All-Big 12 Teams

Lincoln - The Nebraska track and field team not only leads the Big 12 Conference with 21 team titles, but has again proven to be at the top of the pack in the classroom as well with the recent release of the 2010 Academic All-Big 12 Track and Field Team. Head Coach Gary Pepin’s squads led the way on the both the men’s and women’s sides, with 31 student-athletes selected to each team.

 

The No. 17 ranked Husker women were led by senior Ari Goldstein (biochemistry), junior Samantha Musil (nutrition, exercise & health science/elementary education) and sophomore Tara Korshoj (speech-language pathologist), who all posted a perfect 4.0 GPA. Out of the 31 selections for the Husker women, 29 student athletes were first-team honorees.

 

On the men’s side, the No. 16 Huskers accounted for 31 of the 160 selections across the conference, including 27 first-team picks. Milford, Neb., native Eric Lund carried the team with a 4.0 GPA in horticulture, while also ranking fourth in the Big 12 and 23rd in the nation in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.04.

 

Nominated by each institution’s director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the men’s track & field academic all-league squad consisted of 124 first team members combined with 36 on the second team, while the women had 155 first team recipients and 29 student-athletes on the second team.  First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

 

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

 

On the track, the Huskers are focused on the 2010 Big 12 Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which are set to start on Friday in Columbia, Mo., at the Audrey J. Walton Track Complex.