All-Academic Individuals & Scholar Athletes of the Year – NCAA DII Women’s Track & Field

NEW ORLEANS – Carly Muscaro of Merrimack, Natalie O’Keefe of Southwest Baptist and Bethany Drake of Western Washington were named the Female Scholar Athletes of the Year in NCAA Division II Track & Field on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Combining their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition during the recently completed academic year, these four women were the most exceptional among a group of 471 women who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected as the highest finishing performers at the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships who achieved All-Academic status. Those who won individual championship titles ranked higher in the tie-breaking process and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final advantage.

Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, hence the four categories.

Muscaro, a graduated senior who majored in Criminology, maintained a 3.898 GPA and was named the Female Indoor and Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Ashland, Massachusetts, swept the 200- and 400-meter titles at both NCAA meets. Muscaro is the first female athlete from Merrimack to earn this honor.

O’Keefe, a graduated senior who majored in Art, obtained a 4.0 GPA and was named the Female Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Granite City, Illinois, won the high jump title at the 2017 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. This is the second year in a row that O’Keefe won this award.

Drake, a graduate student who went for her Master’s in Teaching, earned a 4.0 GPA and was named Female Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Sandy, Oregon, won the javelin title outdoors. This is the second time that Drake has won this award (2014).

All-Academic Individuals

Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 471 women earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2016-17 track & field seasons.

To qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have reached a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either the indoor or outdoor seasons.

Several institutions tied with 13 honorees.

There were 22 women who earned cumulative GPAs of 4.0 or better.