NEW ORLEANS— Both the Colorado Mesa University men's and women's track and field teams as well as a program-record 25 individual student-athletes were all recognized for their continued academic success by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, which released its' annual academic awards on Monday.
The Maverick squads, under the guidance of program director
Travis Floeck and his staff of coaches, were both honored on the listing of NCAA Division II All-Academic Teams for the ninth consecutive year. To be eligible for the team honor, teams must have a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA. The Mavericks were well above that mark with the women registering a 3.55 mark while the men had a 3.45 team GPA.
Additionally, the Mavs had 25 athletes (13 men, 12 women) who were include don the All-Academic Athlete listing. To earn that honor, student-athletes must have a 3.25 or higher cumulative GPA and be ranked amongst the top 50 individuals on the TFRRS descending order lists in an individual event or amongst a top 35 ranking relay team.
The total of 25 selections, which surpasses the former CMU record of 21 in 2023-24 and nearly doubles of last year's total of 13. The 13 men's selections are also a program-record, smashing the previous record of six.
The Maverick men had three repeat selections in
Aidan Brownell,
Antone Higgs and
Izaak Siefken, who has now earned the honor in three straight years.
Augustine Hancock,
Kammi Merritt and
Brooke Miller, are all repeat selections on the women's side. Hancock and Miller are now 3-time honorees.
CMU's list of selections with their academic majors can be found below.
Men (13)
Blake Anderson (Applied Anthropology & Geography)
Chase Brown (Civil Engineering)
Aidan Brownell (Entrepreneurship)
Van Chambers (Adaptive Physical Education)
Marik Cummings (Finance)
Solomon Griffen (Business Administration)
Antone Higgs (Sport Management)
Asa Keim (Outdoor Recreation Studies)
Joseph Randolph (Exercise Science)
Devin Shea (Computer Science)
Izaak Siefken (Mechanical Engineering)
Colton White (Biology)
Clayton Wilson (Exercise Science)
Women (12)
Taiya Carl (Chemistry)
Kaelea Gibson (Public Accounting)
Kaiya Graves (History/Secondary Education)
Augustine Hancock (Social Work)
Megan Hodges (Nursing)
Kammi Merritt (Exercise Science)
Brooke Miller (Nursing)
Kaitlyn Pearson (Exercise Science)
Kendra Ritzmann (Biology)
Hannah Schissler (Studio Art)
Jordan Staniszewski (Exercise Science)
Shirley Weaver (Biology)
