July 14, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA — Former University of Iowa thrower A.J. Curtis was named to the 2009 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Men’s All-Academic Track and Field team Tuesday. A record total of 327 student-athletes representing 107 Division I institutions made up the men’s all-academic team. Hawkeye distance runners Hannah Roeder and sophomore McKenzie Melander were named to the 2009 women’s all-academic team Monday.
“I am always proud of the way our team handles their classroom responsibilities,” said Head Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country Coach Larry Wieczorek. “I am especially happy for A.J. and the honors he has earned with his outstanding academic work. He has been an excellent student-athlete for his entire career at Iowa.”
Curtis, who was also named to the USTFCCCA all-academic team in 2006, set the school discus record of 202-11 and is one of four student-athletes in Big Ten history to throw over 200 feet in that event. He qualified for the NCAA Midwest Regional eight times, which is also a school record, earning all-region honors twice. A three-time academic all-Big Ten honoree, he placed second in the discus at the Big Ten Championships in 2007 and 2009 and competed in that event at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.
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.