UDC Track & Field Earns USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Honor; Jones, Benjamin Garner Individual All-Academic Accolades
NEW ORLEANS – The University of the District of Columbia was among a total of 92 institutions to garner the distinction of U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team, it was announced Wednesday, July 24th, 2013. Also, junior Kaydian Jones and sophomore Jerily Benjamin each earned Individual All-Academic honors.
"We strive for excellence not only on the track but more importantly in the classroom," head coach Alton McKenzie said. "Our team earning All-Academic recognition by the USTFCCCA is an honor I will cherish as much as the ECC Championship title we earned during the Indoor season."
The University of the District of Columbia Women's Track & Field team earned the distinction as a result of earning a cumulative GPA of 3.02. (The team needed a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher)
Jones (Journalism – Kingston, Jamaica/St. Andrew HS) and Benjamin (Undeclared – Queens, NY/Phillip Randolph HS) qualified for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track & Field Team by compiling a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher and reaching a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either Indoor or Outdoor seasons. Both Jones and Benjamin competed on the Firebirds' 4x400M Relay team which qualified to compete at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, CO.
"Jerily and Kaydian receiving individual All-Academic recognition is also something that makes me feel extremely proud to be UDC's Head Track & Field Coach, and they are very deserving of that recognition as well," McKenzie said. "Jerily and Kaydian had a wonderful year on and off the track, so this comes as no surprise. It shows the commitment that we've made to them being well-rounded student-athletes, and I look forward to that continued success in the classroom and on the track."