Both the NDSU men’s and women’s track and field teams and a total of 23 student-athletes were honored as U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic performers, the organization announced July 26.
As teams, the Bison men and women surpassed the minimum required GPA of 3.0, marking the 13th straight season for the teams receiving the distinction.
Seven members of the men’s team were named to All-Academic Team, including:
• Ryan Enerson, heptathlon, decathlon
• Jake Leingang, 5,000m
• Trevor Otterdahl, weight throw
• Austin Schmidt, javelin
• Steffan Stroh, hammer throw, weight throw, indoor and outdoor shot put
• Alex Talley, indoor and outdoor shot put, weight throw, hammer throw
• Tony Ukkelberg, heptathlon
Schmidt earned the honor for the fourth consecutive season, while Stroh was honored for the third straight year. NDSU’s seven men’s All-Academic individuals tied its highest output ever, matching the 2013, 2015 and 2016 seasons.
The women’s team placed 16 individuals on the team, matching the school record established in 2016. The Bison women tied with Arkansas and Stanford for the second-most in the nation among all Division I track and field programs, behind only Brigham Young University.
NDSU selections include:
• Amanda Anderson, discus
• Lauren Gietzen, indoor pole vault, outdoor pole vault
• Shelby Gunnells, hammer throw, outdoor shot put
• Amy Herrington, hammer throw
• Kelsey Laufenberg, weight throw, indoor shot put
• Amanda Levin, pentathlon
• Klara Lyon, indoor pole vault
• Maddy Nilles, hammer throw, weight throw, discus
• Alyssa Olin, javelin
• Courtney Pasiowitz, indoor and outdoor shot put, weight throw
• Bailey Retzlaff, indoor and outdoor shot put, weight throw, hammer, discus
• Annika Rotvold, 1,500m
• Maggie Schwarzkopf, indoor and outdoor shot put
• Jordyn Thornton, weight throw
• Kari Wolfe, javelin
• Alexis Woods, indoor and outdoor 400m
Olin and Pasiowitz were each honored for the fourth consecutive year. Gunnells, Nilles and Woods were recognized for the third straight season.
To qualify for the All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met either of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 in a relay event on the official NCAA performance list; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships, including preliminary rounds.
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