Seventeen Earn Academic All-Big 12 Honors

May 09, 2018 03:01 PM | Track & Field

By: Joe Mitchin

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Seventeen members of the West Virginia University track and field team have been named to the 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Track & Field Team, the conference announced on Wednesday.

Big 12 Release

Six Mountaineers – redshirt seniors Amy Cashin, Maggie Drazba, Jillian Forsey and Bria Welker and redshirt sophomores Olivia Hill and Andrea Pettit – were recognized for their 4.0 grade point averages, the most in the Big 12 among women's programs.

Joining them on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team are redshirt freshman Antigone Archer, sophomore Amanda Barnes, junior Danique Bryan, redshirt junior Madelin Gardner, senior Rebekah Lafata, senior Shamoya McNeil, junior Faith Penny, redshirt sophomore Krista-Gay Taylor, redshirt senior Rebecca Wendt, redshirt freshman Kyrielle Williams and redshirt freshman Sarah Wills.

"To have over half of the team recognized with such a prestigious honor speaks very highly of the student-athletes in this program," WVU coach Sean Cleary said. "The commitment put forth by our kids, the administration, our support staff and the daily efforts our coaching staff does to accommodate our students' busy schedules are second to none. At the end of the day, these young women have made the choice to be successful in the classroom. We are very proud of each and every one of them."

A total of 344 Big 12 student-athletes were recognized on the 2018 Academic All-Big 12 Track & Field Team, including 209 on the women's team.

The first team consists of those who have maintained a 3.20 grade point average or higher, while second-team honorees hold a GPA of 3.00-3.19.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 20 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

The Mountaineers begin the postseason at the 2018 Big 12 Outdoor Championship, held May 11-13, in Waco, Texas.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.