(METAIRIE, La.)--Both Capital University's men's and women's track & field teams along with a pair of male and a pair of female student-athletes earned All-Academic honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Both Capital teams were among 73 women's teams and 41 men's teams honored nationally. The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Team's of the Year award is based on a combination of athletic and academic achievements, with the top honor going to the team that had the best finish at the Division III Indoor and/or Outdoor National Championships and also holding the highest cumulative GPA. To be nominated, a team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative GPA. The Crusader women had a team GPA of 3.31, while the men posted a 3.01.
Four Capital student-athletes earned All-Academic honors. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, one must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and obtain an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark for the most recent outdoor championships in their respective event.
Senior Nate Thornhill (Xenia/Xenia) had a 3.709 GPA as he graduated with a degree in Spanish and International Studies. Thornhill was the 110 meter hurdle champion in the Ohio Athletic Conference and earned All-American honors in the event at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Sophomore pole vaulter Doug Gibbons (Troy/Troy) is a Art and Theatre major with a 3.667 GPA.
On the women's side, two of the members of Capital's 4x100 meter relay team in sophomore Tana Myers (Ashland/Mapleton) and freshman Jessica Starks (Akron/East) were honored. Myers is an Early Childhood Education major with a 3.437 GPA, while Starks holds a 3.490 GPA as an Undeclared major. The pair were part of a relay team that claimed an OAC Championship with a conference record time of 48.23 and advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Championships.