Miami Ohio University Athletics
RedHawk Track and Field Programs Recognized for Academic Achievement
7/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | General
July 6, 2006
OXFORD, Ohio - Proving they can be successful both on the track and in the classroom, the Miami University men's and women's track and field programs have been honored by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association for compiling cumulative team grade-point averages above 3.0. Named as All-Academic Teams for Division I, the men's team finished with the 16th-best GPA nationally (3.020), while the women's team finished 35th nationally (3.170).
For men's head coach Warren Mandrell, his team was one of 19 Division I track and field teams nationally to compile a team GPA of 3.0 or higher. In addition to being the only school honored from the Mid-American Conference, two RedHawks - senior Chris Swisher (Milan, Ind.) and freshman Pat Sovacool (Lakewood, Ohio) - also were chosen as individual all-academic selections. Swisher (3.42 GPA) and Sovacool (3.41 GPA) both qualified for the NCAA MidEast Regional in the 1,500 meters and were two of six MAC track and field athletes to be individually honored.
For women's head coach Richard Ceronie, his RedHawks were one of 60 Division I track and field teams and one of only two MAC schools to make the national academic list. Two athletes also were recognized for their outstanding athletic and academic achievements, as sophomores Sarah Landau (Geneva, Ill.) and Kristina Bolterstein (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) were chosen as individual all-academic selections. As the two-time defending MidEast Regional champion in the pole vault, Landau (3.43 GPA) swept the MAC Indoor and Outdoor pole vault titles and finished 11th at the NCAA Championships for the second straight season. Bolterstein (3.52 GPA), the MAC Indoor Champion in the high jump, also reset the Miami indoor record in the high jump (5-10) and qualified for her first regional meet during the outdoor season.
The University of Portland (3.363 GPA) and Utah State University (3.497 GPA) finished as the top two Division I programs on the men's and women's sides, respectively.
In order to qualify for all-academic honors, teams had to post a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better during the 2006 spring semester. Individual all-academic honorees were eligible if they maintained a 3.25 GPA and qualified for a regional championship.
Players Mentioned
