Hawkeyes Earn Academic Honors

Aug. 12, 2008

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IOWA CITY, IA — The University of Iowa women’s track and field team and two members of the Hawkeye men’s squad have earned academic honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The Hawkeye women were one of 117 Division I women’s track and field programs to be recognized as a 2008 USTFCCCA All-Academic team. To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.0 team cumulative grade-point average. The Iowa squad posted a team gpa of 3.153 during the 2008 indoor and outdoor seasons. The Big 12, Big East and the Big Ten Conferences led all conferences with eight member schools each on the All-Academic team list.

Seniors A.J. Curtis and Andy Napier were also named to the USTFCCCA men’s 2008 Division I All-Academic team. A record total of 266 student-athletes, representing 111 Division I institutions, made up the men’s All-Academic team. 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 event.

Curtis is a six-time NCAA Midwest Regional qualifier and two-time all-region honoree. He holds the school discus record (202-11), and is one of only two Hawkeyes in school history, and one of four student-athletes in Big Ten history, to throw over 200 feet in the event. Curtis also competed in the discus at 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials, and is a two-time all-Big Ten honoree. Napier is a two-time regional qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, earning all-region honors in that event in 2008. He is a five-time academic all-Big Ten honoree, earning three honors in cross country and two in track.