Record of 489 Division I women’s track and field student-athletes honored for achievements in athletics, academics

NEW ORLEANS – Student-athletes are forever working to balance the competing challenges of school and sports. With four 2008 national titles, two third-place finishes, and an American collegiate record between them, four Division I student-athletes showed that they know what it takes to achieve success in athletics and in academics. Lisa Koll of Iowa State, Sarah Stevens of Arizona State, Sarah Bowman of Tennessee, and Ellie Rudy of Montana State led the way as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced on Tuesday the 2008 Women’s Division I Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Athletes of the Year.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

A Fort Dodge, Ia. native, Koll earned the 2008 Division I Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year award after a record-breaking outdoor season. Koll’s breakthrough 2008 season in the 10,000-meter run included both an NCAA Outdoor title and an American collegiate record in her specialty event. Koll also competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, finishing eighth in a race in which she was the only amateur competitor. A biology major at Iowa State, Koll compiled a near-perfect 3.98 cumulative GPA, graduating in just three years. She has been accepted into Iowa State’s school of Veterinary Medicine and will begin graduate studies in the fall.

“Running and academics go together well. They both demand dedication. Motivation is key because you have to go out on that run, or study for that test whether you want to or not,” said Koll. “I’m really honored to be recognized because there are so many track and field student-athletes who are great competitors and great students.”

Arizona State’s Stevens is the 2008 Division I Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year after winning the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field title in the shot put. The junior from Fort Collins, Co. also finished third in the hammer and sixth in the shot put at the 2008 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, contributing a total of 19 points to the Sun Devils’ second-place team finish. A kinesiology major at Arizona State, Stevens holds a 3.46 cumulative GPA.

“I would argue that during my tenure at Arizona State University that Sarah Stevens has been our most complete student-athlete,” said Sun Devils head coach Greg Kraft. “Obviously this award speaks to Sarah’s academic prowess, but Sarah has also been the president of ASU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council while on the track leading our team to three National Championships. Sarah’s commitment to Sun Devil athletics has been truly awesome.”

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The 2008 USTFCCCA Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year, Tennessee’s Bowman had a busy weekend at the 2008 NCAA Division I Indoor Championships in March. On Friday, she anchored the Tennessee Lady Vols distance medley relay to a national title, and she followed that performance with a third-place finish in the mile on Saturday. Her efforts helped Tennessee to a tie for eighth place in the overall team standings. Bowman, a junior from Warrenton, Va., boasts a 3.85 cumulative GPA in human resource management.

“When you talk about the complete package, from the standpoint of athletics and academics and being a good person on top of that, Sarah Bowman definitely comes to my mind. Sarah’s success in both areas sets a good example and reinforces the idea that you can be a great student and an outstanding athlete at the same time,” said Lady Vols head coach J.J. Clark. “If you decide to work at it and work hard, you can definitely do both.”

Montana State’s Rudy, a native of Woodland Park, Co., has been named the 2008 Division I Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. Rudy won the 2008 NCAA Division I Indoor title in the pole vault to earn her second consecutive indoor national title. She is the only female track and field athlete in Bobcat history to win an NCAA championship. Only a junior, Rudy is a cell biology – neuroscience major with a 3.41 cumulative GPA.

“Ellie is a young lady that positively represents Montana State in so many ways, not just athletically but academically and in our community. She is very involved in the community and on campus, and her athletic achievements speak for themselves,” said Bobcat head coach Dale Kennedy. “This is a great honor for a very deserving young lady, and also a great honor for our program.”

DIVISION I ALL-ACADEMIC TRACK AND FIELD TEAM

In addition to the Scholar Athletes of the Year, the USTFCCCA also announced the women’s 2008 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. A record total of 489 student-athletes representing 143 Division I institutions composed the women’s 2008 All-Academic team.

The University of Minnesota led all instituions with 17 student-athletes on the All-Academic team. Rice University and the University of Wisconsin followed with 13 student-athletes each on the All-Academic team, and Arkansas and Oregon each placed 12 student-athletes on the team. Nebraska placed 11 student-athletes on the team.

The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.

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.

The 2008 USTFCCCA Division I Women’s All-Academic Track and Field Team