The men’s track and field team posted the 11th highest grade point average among all Division II squads and earned recognition as an All-Academic Team by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced recently.
The members of the 2008 SU men’s track and field team combined to post a 3.171 grade point average, the third best among Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools behind only Seattle Pacific and Northwest Nazarene. The posted the highest grade point average at 3.420. For a team to be nominated as an All-Academic Team, it must carry a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average.
“As a program we’ve really stressed the importance of excellence in the classroom and on the track or in the field, and our students have responded very well to the challenges set before them and continue to impress the staff with their efforts,” assistant coach Eric Schueffner said. “The men’s team has done an incredible job increasing their academic performance over the years and I predict it will only get better next year.”
The two seniors on the men’s track and field team, Loyal Allen, Jr. (, ) and Travis Glover (), led by example, each successfully receiving their bachelor’s degrees in June. Distance runner Nicholas Alvarado () earned a spot on the GNAC All-Academic squad with his performance in the classroom, but it was a team effort that led to the honor from the coaches’ association.
“I am very proud of the effort the student-athletes within our track and field program have put into their individual GPAs, which has led to the team GPA being at this level. The coaches and students set high goals for the team and should be commended for their recognition by the USTFCCA,” said assistant athletic director Erin Engelhardt.
The track and field teams join the rest of the athletic program in the school’s reclassification to NCAA Division I status.