Maier, Barrett, D’Agostino, Borman Tapped as DI Scholar Women of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – California’s Debroah Maier, Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett, Dartmouth’s Abbey D’Agostino, and Oklahoma’s Brittany Borman were named as Scholar Athletes of the Year in Division I for the 2012 women’s track & field seasons by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The group represents collegiate track & field’s best in both athletics and academics. In addition, 676 student-athletes were tapped as USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees.

Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest in individual events at the most recent NCAA Championships. Those who earn multiple individual championship titles rank higher in the tie-breaking process, and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final tiebreaker to establish a winner. Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, resulting in four categories.

Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year –
Deborah Maier, California

Maier, a native of Cameron Park, Calif., was the NCAA indoor runner-up in the 3000 and 5000 meters. She carries a cumulative GPA of 3.82.
 
Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year –
Brigetta Barrett, Arizona

Barrett, a finalist for The Bowerman, holds a 3.51 cumulative GPA and was the NCAA champ indoors and out in the high jump. The native of Duncanville, Texas, is a two-time winner of this award.

Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year –
Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth

A native of Topsfield, Mass., D’Agostino was the NCAA outdoor champion in the 5000 meters. She carries a 3.65 cumulative GPA and was the USTFCCCA’s Northeast Region Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season.

Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year –
Brittany Borman, Oklahoma

The NCAA’s javelin champ, Festus, Mo., native Borman carries a 3.75 cumulative GPA through the spring 2012 semester.

Past Winners

Indoor Track & Field (track athlete)
2012: Deborah Maier, California
2011: Jordan Hasay, Oregon
2010: Phoebe Wright, Tennessee
2009: Sarah Bowman, Tennessee
2008: Sarah Bowman, Tennessee

Indoor Track & Field (field athlete)
2012: Brigetta Barrett, Arizona
2011: Brigetta Barrett, Arizona
2010: Kylie Hutson, Indiana State
2009: Kylie Hutson, Indiana State
2008: Ellie Rudy, Montana State

Indoor Track & Field (single award)
2007: Sarah Stevens, Arizona State

Outdoor Track & Field (track athlete)
2012: Abbey D’Agostino, Dartmouth
2011: Sheila Reid, Villanova
2010: Lisa Koll, Iowa State
2009: Jenny Barringer, Colorado
2008: Lisa Koll, Iowa State

Outdoor Track & Field (field athlete)
2012: Brittany Borman, Oklahoma
2011: Trecey Rew, Northwestern State
2010: Evelien Dekkers, Florida
2009: Kim Williams, Florida State
2008: Sarah Stevens, Arizona State

Outdoor Track & Field (single award)
2007: Michelle Sikes, Wake Forest

676 Earn All-Academic Status

In addition to the Scholar Athletes of the Year, the USTFCCCA also announced the women’s 2012 Division I All-Academic Track & Field team. A total of 676 student-athletes representing 171 institutions compose the group. For at least the third-consecutive year, Nebraska accumulated the most on the All-Academic team, claiming 15 on this year’s list. BYU matched the Huskers with 15. Oregon and Minnesota followed with 14. Florida State and Arkansas rounds out the top-five teams with 11.

The Big Ten managed a national-best, 81, who were named to the list. The Big 12 (76) and Pac-12 (66) followed as top-three leagues.

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 of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).

USTFCCCA 2012 Division I Track & Field All-Academic Honorees, WOMEN