NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Vanderbilt track and field team, along with eight of its individual members, earned recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“This is a proud moment for the program as our student-athletes are recognized for their success in the classroom,” said Althea Thomas, director of cross country and track and field. “We appreciate how the team has moved the needle forward to become elite SEC and NCAA competitors while contributing their elite performances in the classroom.”
As a team, the Commodores garnered All-Academic honors with a cumulative grade point average of 3.48.
Eight student-athletes were named All-Academic student-athletes: Nicole Anderson (human and organizational development), Haley Bishop (communications studies), Kaira Brown (public policy studies/Latino and Latina studies), Madison Fuller (medicine, health and society/psychology), Grace Jensen (human and organizational development), Divine Oladipo (graduate studies in human and organizational development), Taiya Shelby (economics/medicine, health and society) and McKenzie Yanek (graduate studies in human development counseling).
“Each member of our team values their growth and evolution in this chapter of their lives and this recognition from the USTFCCCA in addition to the conference honor, is well deserved,” said Thomas.
Vanderbilt met the criteria of maintaining a 3.0 or higher GPA as a team. Individually, the GPA requirement was a minimum of 3.25 and at least two semesters or three quarters competing for the nominating institution. Student-athletes must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 in any championship relay event, for the most recent indoor season. For the outdoor season, student-athletes must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Additionally, student-athletes must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in their region for the most recent outdoor season.
