05 Aug 2020 UCA’s Criner and Jewell earn honors

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) recently announced the 2020 NCAA All-Academic Athletes and All-Academic Team. Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams earned All-Academic Team status. Ajah Criner and Zachary Jewell each collected All-Academic Athlete status for their efforts on the track and in the classroom.

Criner finished the year ranked No. 95 in the 200m and earned her second All-Academic Athlete award. Criner holds a 3.26 grade point average (GPA) and is pursuing a degree in health professions and related programs. 

Jewell collected his second All-Academic Athlete honor and ranked No. 31 in the 200m and No. 79 in the 60m. Jewell posted a GPA of 3.66 and is a biological and biomedical sciences major.

In order for an individual to be named an All-Academic Athlete, a student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA faculty rep or NCAA compliance coordinator or registrar’s office, must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the nominating institution, and must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 in any championship relay event, for the most recent indoor season, certifiable by their place on the NCAA Division I descending order lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track and Field.

For the fourth-straight year, both the men’s and women’s teams achieved All-Academic Team recognition. The women finished with a combined GPA of 3.45, while the men posted a GPA of 3.25.

“I’m excited that both the men’s and women’s teams earned All-Academic,” said interim Head Coach Beau Theriot. “We had high goals for our individuals and I cannot be more proud of Ajah and Zachary for their hard work.”

In order to meet the criteria for being named an All-Academic Team, a team must have a cumulative GPA (not 2018-19 academic year, not semester) for all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, certifiable by either NCAA faculty rep or NCAA compliance coordinator or registrar’s office.