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

NEW ORLEANS – Amber Celen of Bridgewater (Va.), Taryn Cordani of Ithaca, Katherine Pitman of Ithaca, Emily Richards of Ohio Northern and Brandy Smith of Ithaca were named Female Scholar Athletes of the Year in NCAA Division III 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 men were the most exceptional among a group of 608 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.

Celen and Cordani both won two individual titles at the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships and earned 4.0 GPAs in the process. That was more than enough reason for them both to be named Female Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. Celen, a junior who double majors in Communications and Sociology, captured the 100- and 200-meter crowns, while Cordani, a junior who is majoring in Integrated Marketing and Communications, swept the distance crowns.

Pitman, a junior who is majoring in Physical Therapy, obtained a 3.432 GPA and was named the Female Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Swampscott, Massachusetts, won the indoor pole vault crown. Pitman is the first female athlete from Ithaca to win this award since Emma Dewart claimed it in 2011.

Richards, a junior who is majoring in Chemistry, maintained a 3.92 GPA and was named Female Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Delaware, Ohio, won the 800 and 1500 at the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Richards is the first female athlete from Ohio Northern to be named Scholar Athlete of the Year.

Smith, a graduated senior who majored in Business, earned a 3.825 GPA and was named Female Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Miami, Florida, won the discus title outdoors and placed seventh in the shot put. Smith is the first female athlete from Ithaca to take home this honor.

All-Academic Individuals

Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 608 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 3.30 and must have met at least one of the following athletic standards:

• Competed in an NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship
• Finished the regular season ranked in the national top-50 in an individual event or ranked in the national top-35 in a relay event on the official NCAA Descending Order List.

There were 29 women who earned GPAs of 4.0 or better.