By KEVIN JENISON
GoSycamores.com
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – The Indiana State track & field team continued to be recognized for an outstanding 2013 season, this time in the field of academics as both the men and women's teams were recognized as a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.
In addition, six members of the Indiana State women's team and three from the men's team were recognized with All-Academic Individual awards. Macey Black, Nicole Hope, Richelle Kimble, Leeann Michl, Kelly Steffen, and Katie Wise were recognized from the Sycamore women's team while Justin Applegate, Dustin Betz, and Max Tuttle were recognized from the Indiana State men's team.
The Indiana State women's team was recognized for the 13th straight year with a 3.30 team grade point average (GPA). The Sycamores were one of 187 Division I Track & Field teams to be recognized and one of five Missouri Valley Conference teams to receive the honor. Bradley had the highest GPA among the Valley schools recognized (3.37) followed by Northern Iowa (3.31), Indiana State (3.30), Missouri State (3.26), and Drake (3.20).
The Sycamore men's team was recognized for the fourth time with a 3.01 GPA. Indiana State was one of 111 Division I Track & Field teams to be recognized and one of four Missouri Valley Conference teams to receive the honor. Drake had the highest GPA among the Valley schools recognized followed by Bradley (3.15), Northern Iowa (3.03), and Indiana State (3.01).
The Indiana State women led the Valley with six athletes recognized. Southern Illinois had five with Wichita State and Illinois State four each, Drake, Missouri State and Northern Iowa two each, and Bradley had one.
Macey Black posted a 3.39 GPA while majoring in Recreation and Sport Management at Indiana State. The senior on the 2013 team competed at the NCAA East Preliminary during the Outdoor season as a member of the 4x100 meter relay team. The relay placed 15th after running the third fastest time in school history (45.04). This is her Black's first recognition as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
The 4x100 relay won the MVC title (45.16) while Black was also a member of the 4x400 relay team that set a school and MVC Championships record with a winning time of 3:38.76. It was Black's second Outdoor All-Conference recognition for the 4x400 relay and her first as part of the 4x100 relay. Black is also a two-time Indoor All-Conference selection in the 4x400 relay which placed third at the MVC Indoors. That relay set the Indiana State record with a time of 3:41.65 at the Tyson Invitational.
Nicole Hope had a 3.70 GPA while majoring in Physical Education Exercise Science at Indiana State. The senior on the 2013 team competed in the pole vault and placed 13th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships by clearing 13'-7¼” (4.15m) to earn second team All-American honors. She tied for first at the NCAA East Preliminary by clearing 13'-5¼” (4.10 meters) just weeks after winning her second MVC Outdoor Championship by clearing 13'-2½” (4.03 meters). This is the third time that Hope has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
Richelle Kimble earned a 3.73 GPA while majoring in Communications at Indiana State. The senior on the 2013 team competed in the pole vault at the NCAA East Preliminary for the fourth straight year and placed 15th by clearing 13'-1½” (4.00 meters). She earned her third straight All-Conference recognition by placing second at the MVC Outdoors by clearing 12'-10¾” (3.93 meters). She also earned her third straight Indoor All-Conference recognition this season by placing second at the MVC Indoors by clearing 12'-7½” (3.85 meters). This is the third time that Kimble has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
Leeann Michl posted a 3.43 GPA while majoring in Physical Education Exercise Science at Indiana State. The senior on the 2013 team competed in the 800 meters at the NCAA East Preliminary during the Outdoor season and placed 27th with a time of 2:07.24. Michl followed that up by setting in the Indiana State record in the 800 meters with a time of 2:05.57 at the American Milers Club High Performance Series in Indianapolis as she attempted to qualify for the USATF Outdoor Championships. This is the second time that Michl has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
The senior won the 800 meters at the MVC Outdoors to earn All-Conference honors for the second straight year in the event. She also earned her third straight All-Conference recognition as part of the 4x400 meter relay team that set a school and MVC Championships record with a winning time of 3:38.76. She also won the MVC Indoor title in the 800 meters to earn her third Indoor All-Conference recognition in the event and earned her fourth straight Indoor All-Conference recognition as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team. Michl finished the indoor season ranked 42nd in the nation for the 800 meters with a time of 2:07.01.
Kelly Steffen had a 4.00 GPA while majoring in Math Education at Indiana State. The junior on the 2013 team finished the Indoor season ranked 69th nationally in the Pentathlon with 3,691 points which she earned in placing third at the MVC Indoor Championships to earn All-Conference recognition. Steffen was named the recipient of the 2013 MVC Indoor Elite 18 Award. She also finished fourth in the Decathlon at the MVC Outdoors with 4,936 points. Both point totals (indoors and outdoors) are the second best in school history. This is the second time that Steffen has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
Katie Wise earned a 3.57 PA while majoring in Pre-Elementary Education at Indiana State. The freshman on the 2013 team had a remarkable initial campaign with the Sycamores capped with a 21st place finish in the 100 meters (11.48) at the NCAA Outdoor Championships to earn Honorary Mention All-American recognition. Wise ran a career best 11.33 (wind aided) to place ninth at the NCAA East Preliminary. She also finished 30th in the 200 meters (24.06) at the NCAA East Preliminary and anchored the 4x100 meter relay team to a 15th place finish with the third fastest time in school history (45.04).
Wise won the MVC Outdoor title in the 100 meters (11.41) and finished fifth in the 200 meters (23.92) while earning her second All-Conference recognition as a member of the winning 4x100 meter relay team (45.16). The freshman also won the 60 meter title at the MVC Indoors (7.51) and finished sixth in the 200 meters (24.99). She finished the indoor season ranked 49th in the 60 meters with a time of 7.42 seconds that she ran at the Grand Valley State Big Meet. This is her first recognition as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
The Indiana State men were one of five Valley schools to have athletes recognized by the USTFCCCA. Wichita State led with four athletes recognized while Northern Iowa had two, and Drake and Southern Illinois had one each.
Justin Applegate had a 3.64 GPA while majoring in Physical Education Exercise Science at Indiana State. The sophomore on the 2013 team competed in the hammer throw at the NCAA East Preliminary and finished 39th with a distance of 174'-8” (53.24 meters). He placed eighth at the MVC Outdoors with a distance of 185'-7” (56.56 meters) and had a season best throw of 190'-4” (58.01 meters) at the Billy Hayes Invitational. This is his first recognition as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
Dustin Betz earned a 3.32 GPA while majoring in Aviation Management at Indiana State. The senior on the 2013 team competed in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and placed 23rd to earn Honorable Mention All-American recognition. He finished sixth at the NCAA East Preliminary in a career best 8:47.19. This is the second time that Betz has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
The senior received his third Outdoor All-Conference recognition in the steeplechase by placing second at the MVC Outdoor Championships (9:00.95). He also finished second in the 1,500 meters (3:50.82) to earn his first All-Conference honor in that event. Betz earned his second Indoor All-Conference recognition in the 3,000 meters and his first in the mile at the MVC Indoors, placing second in the mile and third in the 3,000 meters.
Max Tuttle had a 3.56 GPA while majoring in Physical Education Exercise Science at Indiana State. The junior on the 2013 team placed 26th in the 400 meter hurdles at the NCAA East Preliminary (52.15). Tuttle earned his third Outdoor All-Conference recognition at the MVC Outdoors as a member of the 4x400 meter relay team that finished third with a season best time of 3:11.46 and his second in the 400 meter hurdles with a second place finish in a career best time of 51.82. This is the second time that Tuttle has been recognized as All-Academic by the USTFCCCA.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average 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 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).
