Melander, Sowinski Earn Academic Honor

May 31, 2012

IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa seniors McKenzie Melander and Erik Sowinski have been named to the 2012 Capital One Track & Field Academic All-District team. The announcement was made today by the College Sports Information Directors of America. The award recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Melander is a speech and hearing science major from Apple Valley, Minn. A 2012 Big Ten Champion in the 5,000 meters, Melander will compete at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines on Saturday, June 9. She is a three-time academic All-Big Ten honoree and has been named to the Dean’s List four times. Her career best 5,000 meter time of 15:57.13 ranks second in school history behind 1985 NCAA Champion Nan Doak.

Sowinski, an integrative physiology major from Waukesha, Wis., is a two-time academic All-Big Ten honoree and has been named to the Dean’s List three times. He’ll compete in 800 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines on Wednesday, June 6. Sowinski is the school record holder in the 800 meters and won the indoor Big Ten title in 2012. He’s earned NCAA All-America honors in each of the last two seasons.

Erik Sowinski

“Both McKenzie and Erik epitomize what it means to be a successful student-athlete at the collegiate level,” said Iowa head coach Layne Anderson. “They’re incredible human beings, exceptional students, and Big Ten Champions — the trifecta of intercollegiate athletics for two well-deserving Hawkeyes.”