PSU track gets national honors

Four members of the Pittsburg State University men’s track and field team were among 12 MIAA student athletes that earned recognition on the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division II Men's All-Academic Team.
Michael Beeler, Noah Dumpert, Ethan Hobbs and Alex Kuhlman were named to the team.
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 the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.
The PSU foursome joined Jaban Moore and A.J. Roth from Central Missouri, Skyler Delmott from Emporia State, Rocky Baalmann, Kyle Jilka and Aaron Pablo from Fort Hays State and Erik Johnson and Michael Pierce from Southwest Baptist.
The Pitt State women’s track and field team was also recognized along with four other league schools on the 2008 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's Division II All-Academic Women's Track and Field Teams.
Two of the five MIAA representatives were among the top 10 schools — Truman State University was ranked sixth with a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.490, while Missouri Southern State University was seventh at 3.484.
Pitt State ranked 24th on the list with a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.320.
Other MIAA schools on the list included: Fort Hays State University (3.160) and Emporia State University (3.030).
The University of Tampa (Fla.) recorded the highest overall team GPA with a 3.670, followed by Minnesota State University, Mankato — which carried a 3.650 team GPA. Seattle Pacific (Wash.), which had the second-highest team GPA in 2007, boasts a 3.540 GPA this season.
To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade-point average.
From that list of 58, the Scholar Team of the Year Award is chosen. Abilene Christian (Texas) University (outdoors) and Adams (Colo.) State College (indoors) were chosen for the 2008 awards.
The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Teams of the Year award is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievements, with the top honor going to the team that had the combination of best overall finish at the Division II Indoor or Outdoor National Championships and cumulative GPA.
ACU won the NCAA Division II outdoor track championship and posted a 3.050 GPA. Adams State won the D-II indoor crown, and had a 3.151 GPA.