Photo Credit: Michigan Tech

NEW ORLEANS - The Michigan Tech track and field teams received several academic awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Senior Andrea Metz and junior Erin Ballun were each named to the Women’s USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Track and Field Team.

“These awards speak volumes about the importance of academics not only to the student-athletes but the teams as well,” said athletic director Suzanne Sanregret. “These awards also show that we are not only competitive in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference but also in the nation.”

Metz, a senior majoring in chemical engineering at Michigan Tech, won the 1,500-meter run at the 2008 GLIAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in a school record time of 4:38.33. Her time also provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships. The Marathon, Wis., native ranks fifth in school history in the 3,000-meter run (10:31.20) and eighth in the 5,000-meter run (18:35.86). She was also selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for cross country and track and field. The three-time Academic All-GLIAC selection was named most improved on the Michigan Tech women’s track and field team in 2008.

Ballun, a junior majoring in environmental engineering, set the school record in the high jump with a leap of 5-7. She won the high jump at the GLIAC Championships in 2006 and finished second in 2008. The Oswego, Ill., native also set the heptathlon school record with 3,565 points.

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 the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

In addition to the individual honors, both the men’s and women’s programs were named 2008 Div. II Track and Field Scholar Teams.

The women’s team posted a 3.457 grade point average to finish ninth overall in the nation and best among the GLIAC. The conference also tied for the most teams from one league with nine.

The men’s team finished 17th in the nation with a 3.094 grade point average and was second among the GLIAC. Tech was one of three GLIAC schools to earn the honor. To be nominated the team must carry a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade-point average.