TRACK & FIELD

The Huntington women’s track & field team claimed a 3.54 GPA this past academic year to be named the 2020 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Scholar Team of the Year as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USATFCCCA) yesterday.

HU won the national title at the 2020 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in early March by scoring 77 points with Aspen Dirr and Hannah Stoffel combining for 62 of those.

Overall, there were 57 different programs honored for their academic excellence.

All eight of the Foresters who represented HU at the championships were honored with an All-Academic badge by maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Huntington was one of just six programs that had at least eight All-Academic athletes.

Jordan Adam, Jessica Chojnacki, Dirr, Mara McFarland, Molly Mitchell, Saige Norris, Stoffel and Olivia Von Gunten were among the 193 female athletes representing 53 institutions to receive this elite honor. Stoffel and Von Gunten were two of just 22 athletes who posted a perfect cumulative GPA of 4.0.

On the men’s side, the Foresters were also tabbed an All-Academic Team by carrying a team GPA of 3.42, the fourth highest among the 43 men’s programs honored.

Heath Atkins, Aaron Hendryx, Josiah Sovine and Kent Yoder were also recognized individually as All-Academic athletes. Overall, 134 men representing 40 institutions received this distinction.

To be considered for All-Academic status, a student-athlete must achieve an “A” or “B” standard in a championship event in addition to maintaining at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA.