Track Earns All-Academic Team Honors
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami track and field program receivedAll-Academic Team honors for the 2016-17 NCAA Division I Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field seasons, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
In order to be in contention for Scholar Team of the Year, a program must finish highly at the respective national championship meet and have at least a 3.00 cumulative team GPA. 360 NCAA Division I teams were honored for their academics by the USTFCCCA. 218 of those were women’s teams compared to 142 men’s programs.
“We emphasize the importance of success in the classroom and in your event area,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “This recognition shows that our student-athletes are taking that seriously and putting in the effort to excel academically and athletically.”
Miami’s women’s team received the honor after an impressive 2016-17 campaign. The Hurricanes defended their ACC indoor team championship and also had eight members of the 2017 ACC indoor champions earn All-ACC Academic honors for indoor track and field. Six Miami women were named All-ACC Academic following the outdoor track and field season. Brittny Ellis, Kristina Knott, Ebony Morrison and Anna Runia were among the most impressive student-athletes for the Hurricane women, sweeping All-ACC Academic honors during indoor and outdoor track and field, while pole vaulter Amanda Gale was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District Track & Field/Cross Country Team.
The Hurricane men also shined academically, as Myles Valentine and Daniel Polinski were named All-ACC Academic for indoor track and field and Isaiah Taylor earned All-ACC Academic honors following the outdoor season. Additionally, distance runner Jonathan Keller was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District Track & Field/Cross Country Team. Keller, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in audio engineering, earned President’s List every semester of his college career to finish with a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @MiamiHurricanes, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @CanesTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. The program is also on Instagram.
