University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI track and field picks up USTFCCCA individual and team academic nods
7/14/2023 2:00:00 PM | Track and Field
Both men's and women's teams honored with team awards. Seven Panthers earn individual Academic All-American status.
NEW ORLEANS --- Both of UNI's men's and women's track and field teams, along with seven individual student-athletes have been recognized with Academic All-American honors by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
To be considered for team recognition, a team must register a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. Individually, student-athletes must post a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA, have completed at least two semesters at their nominating institution and have been ranked nationally in competition. Competition consideration requires a top-96 ranking in an individual event or top-48 in a relay during the indoor season, or a top-96 outdoor ranking in any event in their respective NCAA competing region.
The Panther women's team posted a team cumulative GPA of 3.57 this season, the third-highest among MVC programs recognized. UNI's men's team posted a 3.24 cumulative GPA, one of seven MVC men's teams to earn the national team honor.
Four Panther men picked up individual Academic All-American nods in Chase Knoche, Luke Meyers, Brendan Safley and Jack Sumners. UNI throwers Katie Fare, Mari Shavers and Makenna Wilson were also recognized with individual honors.
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Knoche - MVC Scholar-Athlete Team and College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District … MVC runner-up and NCAA West Regional participant in the 800-meter run (1:51.40).
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Meyers - Part of UNI's MVC championship team in the 4x100-meter relay that set a new school, conference championship meet and Illinois State facility record (39.62 seconds) … Also ran the 4x100-meter relay at the NCAA West Regional.
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Safley - MVC Scholar-Athlete Team… MVC outdoor pole vault champion (5.15 meters) … Cleared 5.05 meters at the NCAA West Regional … MVC indoor pole vault runner-up (4.85 meters).
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Sumners - MVC outdoor 110-meter hurdles champion (13.98 seconds) … Also ran the event at the NCAA West Region … MVC indoor runner-up in the 60-meter hurdles (8.02) and third in the long jump (7.15 meters).
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Fare - MVC Scholar-Athlete Team and Female Field Athlete of the Week (Feb. 15, Feb. 22, April 12) … MVC outdoor shot put runner-up (17.06 meters) with the second-best throw in school history … Also threw the shot put at the NCAA West Regional … MVC indoor shot put runner-up (15.88 meters).
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Shavers - MVC Scholar-Athlete Team … MVC hammer throw runner-up (61.19 meters) … Placed seventh in the event at the NCAA West Regional with a career-best 65.58-meter toss, the second-best in program history … Earned All-American Honorable Mention recognition for a 22nd place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships … Seventh in the weight throw at the MVC Indoor Championships.
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Wilson - MVC Scholar-Athlete Team and CSC Academic All-District … Female MVP of the MVC Outdoor Championships, earning first place in the hammer throw (64.32 meters) and third in the shot put (16.45 meters) … Sixth in the hammer throw at the NCAA West Regional (66.47 meters) … Second Team All-American honors for 16th place finish in the hammer throw at the NCAA Outdoor Championships (63.32 meters) … Set school record in the hammer throw (66.69 meters).
Players Mentioned
