Four track and field athletes named to the USTFCCCA 2011 Division III All-Academic Track & Field Team

By: Monique Boqman

ADA — Four Polar Bear track and field athletes were named to the 2011 Division III All-Academic Track & Field team by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

On the men's side, graduated seniors Garrett Brown (Atwater/Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy) and Shane Huntley (Sandusky/Perkins) earned the honor, while sophomores Vicki Moga (Stow/Monroe Falls) and Alison Steinbrunner (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) represented ONU on the women's side.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field team, the student-athlete must have compiled a 3.30 cumulative GPA and have met an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark in an individual or relay event.

Brown had a solid season in 2011, earning two Indoor OAC titles in the 4x400 relay and the distance medley relay. At the outdoor conference championships, he took second place and and All-OAC honor in the 400 hurdles, finishing in 54.17. That time was good enough for an NCAA provisional qualifying mark.

Huntley also had a great senior season, earning All-OAC honors three times between the indoor and outdoor seasons, as well as anOAC title in the 4x400 relay at the OAC Indoor Championship. Huntley was a member of the 4x400 indoor squad that recorded an NCAA provisional mark in February.

Moga posted an NCAA provisional mark in the outdoor season clearing 5-5 in late April. She also earned All-OAC laurels with a third-place finish at the conference meet.

Steinbrunner came off a great cross country season to have an equally great indoor track season. She earned an NCAA automatic qualifying time in the 5,000 run, as well as defended her conference titles in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs. She also set two new school records in those two events during the season.