CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For a second straight season, Austin Peay State University women's track and field team has been named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.
Also, for a second straight year, pole vaulter Carrie Burggraf has been named to the USTFCCCAA All-Academic Track and Field team.
For teams to qualify they must carry a 3.0 grade-point average or better for the year—the Lady Govs owned a 3.037 GPA for the 2008-09 academic year.
To qualify individually for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event. Burggraf is the only OVC female athlete to earn such distinction.
The Marion, Ohio rising senior owns a 4.0 GPA as a political science major with a minor in history and English writing. In her first 2009 outdoor meet in Florida, she attained the NCAA qualifying pole vault height. Back in May, she competed in the NCAA Regional in Louisville.
Burggraf recently was named second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Women's Track & Field/Cross Country by the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA).
“We are very proud of the women's team accomplishments both on the track and in the classroom,” APSU coach Doug Molnar said. “It is a great honor to be recognized for this achievement. (Assistant) coach Troy Morris and I stress the academics with our kids and they take it to heart. We challenged the girls at the beginning of the year that this was one of our goals for the year to repeat as All-Academic.
“What can you say about Carrie that hasn't been already said. She had an outstanding year and the awards just keep rolling in.
“This year we hit the trifecta – men's cross-country, women's cross-country and women's track all earned all-academic honors for the year. That is a nice ending to the year.”
-AP-
