Steinforth Named First-Team Academic All-American

Nebraska track and field sophomore Till Steinforth was named to the Academic All-America First Team as the College Sports Communicators announced its men's track and field award winners on Thursday. Axelina Johansson was announced as an Academic All-American for the Husker women on Wednesday.

Steinforth carries a 4.0 GPA majoring in architectural studies. The Saxony-Anhalt, Germany native capped a breakout season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships with a fourth-place finish in the decathlon. Steinforth was the Big Ten Men's Field Athlete of the Championships this outdoor season after winning both the decathlon and long jump conference titles. He scored a school record and Big Ten meet record 8,064 points in the decathlon to win by 278 points. Immediately after the decathlon pole vault concluded, Steinforth made his way over to the long jump pit, and on his first attempt put forth a personal-best 25-7 1/4 (7.80m), which held up through the entire competition to earn him the gold medal in that event as well.

Steinforth set school records in both the decathlon and heptathlon this year, and he also cracked the top 10 in school history in the long jump, both indoor and outdoor. 

Overall, the Nebraska men's and women's track and field programs lead the nation with 56 combined Academic All-Americans since 2002. All-time the Husker men's and women's track and field programs have combined for 70 Academic All-America awards since 1985. The Husker men have had at least one Academic All-American each of the last five years. 

Steinforth's selection brings the University of Nebraska's all-time Academic All-America total to 351.