May 16, 2007
ST LOUIS -
Based on their performances at the 2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships last weekend, nine members of the Illinois State track and field team were named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team by the league office Wednesday. The women's team earned six distinctions, while three were selected from the men's team.
Junior Anna Lovell, who was an all-conference performer in the 400-meter dash as well as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team, highlighted the women's efforts at the Valley Championships while also excelling in the classroom. Earning her second scholar-athlete honor, Lovell carries a 3.39 GPA and is majoring in speech pathology and audiology. Juniors Devon Williams (3.25, general student) and Frannie Epps (3.55, finance) were named to the scholar-athlete team for the second time, while sophomores Kristin Brinkman (3.31 GPA, accounting) and Kathleen Thompson (3.78, general student) and junior Melissa Clarke (3.06, exercise science) garnered first career selections.
Junior Joe Painter, who has a 3.70 GPA majoring in biological sciences, joined teammates and sophomores Mike Richardson (3.10, general student) and Carl Azab (3.00, exercise science) on the team as the trio earned accolades for the first time.
Head coach Elvis Forde was proud of the members of the Redbird track team that received the honor, believing that each epitomized the definition of being a student-athlete.
"It's a great honor for our student-athletes to be recognized with this kind of award," said Forde. "These individuals have shown what it takes to be a true student-athlete by the hard work they display in the classroom and on the track."
Criteria for the Valley Scholar-Athlete honor requires that the student-athlete must carry a 3.00 cumulative GPA of higher and place in the top-six in their respective event at either the indoor or outdoor conference championship meet. First-year and junior college transfer students are not eligible.
Eight members of the Illinois State track and field team will compete at the NCAA Mideast Regional, held May 25-26 in Columbia, Mo.
