Aug. 7, 2008
NEW ORLEANS -
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) bestowed individual and team honors to the Illinois State women's track and field team as Anna Lovell and Devon Williams were named to the USTFCCCA Division I Women's All-Academic Track and Field Team, while the entire team earned recognition as a USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic Scholar Team.
Lovell and Williams were among 468 student-athletes representing 140 Division I institutions that comprised the women's 2008 All-Academic team.
During the 2007-08 track and field season, Lovell recorded top-five finishes at the MVC Outdoor Championships in the 200- (24.19), 400-meters (55.31), and the long jump (18-11.75 feet). All of those performances were season-bests. She was also a member of the 4x100 relay team that took first place and advanced to the NCAA Mideast Regional with a time of 46.19. Lovell, who has a 3.43 cumulative GPA in speech pathology and audiology, was an MVC Track and Field Scholar-Athlete selection, received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, and was named to the MVC Honor Roll this season. She was named to the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll both semesters and is a 2008 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar.
Williams completed her senior career as a five-time MVC conference champion in the indoor 60 and 200, and the outdoor 100, 200 and 4x100-meter relay, while maintaining a 3.30 GPA in nursing. The Oswego, Ill., native ended a prolific career with four school records, 11 conference titles, an indoor championship meet record, regional qualifying performances, and as a two-time Missouri Valley Conference's Indoor Track and Field Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete. This season, she ran a career-best performance of 23.90 in the 200, and turned in season-best times in the 100 (11.57) and 4x100 (46.19) at the MVC Outdoor Championships.
Williams is a 2008 Track and Field Scholar-Athlete, was also named to the MVC Honor Roll, and received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award. She was also named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V women's track and field/cross country teams.
"Devon and Anna have both excelled in the classroom and in athletics," said ISU head track and field coach Elvis Forde. "They have worked hard on both fields, and once they finish their degrees they will find success in their careers."
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 either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective events.
The Illinois State women's track and field team was among 117 Division I women's track and field programs recognized as a 2008 USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team.
The Redbird women's track and field program carried a 3.26 cumulative GPA in the spring semester and placed fifth at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships and third at the outdoor championships.
"The reason the student-athletes are at the university is to excel in their academics," said Forde. "The women's team demonstrated their commitment to their studies this year. It also helps that they have the resources of the academic study center and staff. We are committed to developing our student-athletes not only in their athletes, but their academics as well."
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 I Indoor and/or Outdoor National Championships and cumulative GPA.
To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 team cumulative grade-point average.
