Hawkeye Duo Earns Academic Honors

July 13, 2009

IOWA CITY, IA — University of Iowa senior Hannah Roeder and sophomore McKenzie Melander were recently named to the 2009 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Women’s All-Academic Track and Field team. A record total of 531 student-athletes representing 146 Division I institutions composed the women’s 2009 all-academic team.

“This award recognizes academic and athletic excellence, and caps off a tremendous semester in the classroom and on the track for both Hannah and McKenzie,” said Head Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Layne Anderson. “This past year and the post-season recognition should springboard both into a great fall on the cross country trails.”

Sophomore McKenzie Melander

Roeder led Iowa in the 3,000-meter steeplechase during the outdoor season, placing eighth at the Big Ten Championships (10:35.26) and 13th at the NCAA Midwest Regional (10:40.85). Her season-best time of 10:35.26 in that event ranks third all-time at Iowa. Roeder earned academic all-Big Ten honors in track, while both she and Melander were members of the 2008 Hawkeye cross country squad that earned USTFCCCA team all-academic honors.

Melander earned all-region honors in the 1,500 meters, and was a NCAA provisional qualifier as part of the team-leading distance medley relay during the indoor season. Her season-best times in the 1,500 meters (4:26.99) and mile (4:51.76) rank ninth and 10th, respectively, all-time at Iowa.

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.

Click HERE for the full list of honorees.