Central women tabbed track and field academic team
Central College
PELLA—For the fifth straight year, the Central College women’s track and field squad has been named a Division III All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Teams that compile a 3.10 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale) or higher receive the distinction. The Dutch, one of 111 teams honored, carried a 3.33 GPA.
Central tied for 24th at the NCAA indoor championship before finishing 17th in the outdoor meet. The Dutch earned all-America recognition 11 times, six in the outdoor season.
Earlier three student-athletes received individual USTFCCCA academic honors, achieving a 3.3 or better GPA while meeting an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark in an individual or relay event. Jill Ziskovsky Halcomb (Dallas Center, Dallas Center-Grimes), Emily Teas (Indianola) and Rachel Purdy (junior, Ankeny) earned the distinction.
Halcomb was also previously named to the Capital One Academic All-America squad, chosen by the College Sports Information Directors of America, for the second consecutive year. She was a first-team honoree.
Earlier this spring Central had 11 selections on the Iowa Conference academic squad. Halcomb and junior Melony McDermott (junior, Britt, West Hancock HS) led the group with 3.94 GPAs.
This is the sixth time the women’s track and field program has received the USTFCCCA honor.
