Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals
USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams
July 22, 2020 - The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has recognized the North Central College women's track & field team for its success in both athletics and academics, awarding the Cardinals the Team Academic Award for the 14th consecutive season. Eight Cardinals received individual All-Academic accolades as well, matching the second-highest total in the program's history.
The Cardinals earn the honor after posting a team grade-point average of 3.45 for the academic year, its second-highest since the USTFCCCA's Academic Award program began in 2007. North Central is one of eight College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) institutions to be honored, joining Augustana College, Carroll University, Carthage College, Elmhurst College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Millikin University and Wheaton College.
To be eligible for the award, institutions must be USTFCCCA members and compile a team GPA of 3.10 or better. A total of 209 NCAA Division III women's programs made the list this season.
The Cardinals' eight individual award winners include three-time honoree and sprinter/jumper Kelsey McLaurin, while sprinters Katie Bonney and Allison Grady, middle-distance runner Ashley Buado, thrower Alexandra Draves and pole vaulter Kathy Myrda are recognized for the second year and middle-distance runners Rachael Vaccaro and Jenna Yakesh appear on the list for the first time.
McLaurin finished the indoor season ranked third nationally in the triple jump (39'7") and 28th in the 200-meter dash (25.67). Bonney ranked 13th nationwide in the 400-meter dash (57.65) and teamed with McLaurin, Grady and Buado to rank 21st in the 4-by-400-meter relay (3:55.55). Buado, Grady, Vaccaro and Yakesh ranked 35th in the distance medley relay (12:20.09). Draves owned the nation's 11th-best mark in the 20-pound weight throw (58'3") and Myrda sat 21st in the pole vault (11'11.75").
McLaurin won the triple jump at the CCIW Indoor Championship for the second straight year, while Myrda placed first in the pole vault and Vaccaro and Yakesh ran on the Cardinals' first-place distance medley relay team. North Central won the CCIW indoor team title for the seventh time in its history Feb. 29.
McLaurin and Draves are the Cardinals' all-time varsity record holders in the indoor triple jump and 20-pound weight throw, respectively.
In all, 477 student-athletes from 123 institutions made the list, including 22 from the CCIW.
