Award History
NCAA DII wTF All-Academic Athletes2019 USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women’s Track & Field Athlete Academic Awards
NEW ORLEANS – Caroline Kurgat of Alaska Anchorage and Haven Lander of Pittsburg State were honored by the US. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday as Kurgat swept both Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Track Athlete of the Year awards while Lander collected both the Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Field Athlete of the Year honors, respectively.
Combining their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition during the recently completed academic year, these two women were the most exceptional among a group of 448 athletes who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected as the highest finishing individual at the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships who achieved All-Academic status. Those athletes who won individual NCAA championships ranked higher in the tiebreaking process and cumulative GPA is weighted as the final advantage.
Separate awards were given to track and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, hence the four categories in total.
Women’s Indoor Scholar Athlete Award History |
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Year |
Track Athlete |
Field Athlete |
2019 |
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage |
Haven Lander, Pittsburg State |
2018 |
Alicja Konieczek, Western State |
Kami Norton, Angelo State |
2017 |
Carly Muscaro, Merrimack |
Natalie O’Keefe, Southwest Baptist |
2016 |
Emily Oren, Hillsdale |
Natalie O’Keefe, Southwest Baptist |
2015 |
Amy Cymerman, Grand Valley State |
Erica Kinsey, Central Missouri |
2014 |
Danielle Williams, Johnson C. Smith |
Erin Alewine, Central Missouri |
2013 |
Helen Crofts, Simon Fraser |
Erin Alewine, Central Missouri |
2012 |
Amanda Putt, Hillsdale |
Kristen Hixson, Grand Valley State |
2011 |
Shannon Gagne, New Haven |
Shannon Gagne, New Haven |
2010 |
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific |
Darcie Schmitz, Fort Hays State |
2009 |
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific |
Jenna Schmidt, Central Missouri |
2008 |
Sheena Devine, Bemidji State/Katelin Rains, Minnesota State (One award for track & field) |
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2007 |
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific (One award for track & field) |
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Kurgat took the top honor for track as she posted a 3.47 GPA to go with winning the national titles in both the 3000 and 5000 at the indoor championships. The senior – and Eldoret, Kenya native – is the first athlete in program history to earn the Scholar Track Athlete of the Year award during the indoor season.
Lander, as you will continue to read below, was perfect both in the classroom and on the runway this year. The sophomore won the national championship in the pole vault to get her campaign going during the indoor season. The Republic, Missouri, native is the first athlete in program history to be named Indoor Scholar Field Athlete of the Year.
Women’s Outdoor Scholar Athlete Award History |
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Year |
Track Athlete |
Field Athlete |
2019 |
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage |
Haven Lander, Pittsburg State |
2018 |
Caroline Kurgat, Alaska Anchorage |
Kami Norton, Angelo State |
2017 |
Carly Muscaro, Merrimack |
Bethany Drake, Western Washington |
2016 |
Lauren Martin, Adams State |
Allie Updike, Azusa Pacific |
2015 |
Emily Oren, Hillsdale |
Brittany Kallenberger, Central Missouri |
2014 |
Danielle Williams, Johnson C. Smith |
Bethany Drake, Western Washington |
2013 |
Danielle Williams, Johnson C. Smith |
Mallory Sanner, Seton Hill |
2012 |
Rachel Patterson, Grand Valley State Betsy Graney, Grand Valley State Kristen McGlynn, Adams State |
Calista Lyon, Cal State LA |
2011 |
Shannon Gagne, New Haven |
Jillisa Grant, New Mexico Highlands |
2010 |
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific |
Amanda Madden, Northern State |
2009 |
Ashley Puga, Northwest Nazarene |
Linda Rainwater, UC San Diego |
2008 |
Nandelle Cameron, Lincoln (Mo.) Emma Erickson, South Dakota |
Jessica Selby-Tallman, Missouri Southern |
2007 |
Jessica Pixler, Seattle Pacific (One award for track & field) |
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Kurgat attained a cumulative GPA of 3.47 as she captured her second straight Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year honor. The senior just wrapped up her stellar career with two more championships in both the 5000 and 10,000. The Eldoret, Kenya native is still the only athlete in Seawolf program history to win the award during the outdoor campaign.
Lander was as perfect on the runway as she was in the classroom as the standout student-athlete recorded a perfect 4.00 GPA to go with her national championship at outdoors, giving her a clean sweep in the event at the indoor and outdoor championships. Still just a sophomore, the Republic, Missouri, native is the first in program history to win the Scholar Field Athlete of the Year award during the outdoor season
ALL-ACADEMIC INDIVIDUALS
Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 448 women earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2018-19 track & field seasons.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic award, student-athletes 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 season.