The Missouri Valley Conference announced Friday that 14 track and field student-athletes from Illinois State were selected to the 2004 scholar-athlete team.
The criteria for the Valley Scholar-Athlete Track and Field Team requires a student-athlete to have placed in the top six at either the indoor or outdoor Valley championship and to maintain a grade point average of 3.00 or higher. Freshman and first-year junior college transfer students are not eligible.
Illinois State and Drake tied for the second most student-athletes on this years team behind Indiana States 19.
Representing the 2004 womens team include Tori Gaumer, Jen Klostermann, Leah Smith, Betsy McDonald, Andrea Mosher, Lian Lucas, Laura Kennedy and Lindsey Arnold. Representing the men were Mark Jackson, Miklos Konkoly, Dan Tripp, Rhett Hillard, Casey Gantt and Rodney Parker.
Head coach Elvis Forde was pleased to learn that his team was well represented.
Its always nice to have athletes who excel both on the track and in the classroom, Forde said. Were an academic institution and that is our top priority. We recruit kids who want to work hard in both settings, and this says a lot about our program.
The Redbirds return to action next Friday when they send 12 individuals to Baton Rouge, La., on May 28-29 for the NCAA Midwest Regional.
