University of Connecticut Athletics
Three Huskies Named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
8/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Aug. 4, 2011
STORRS, Conn. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced that three members of the University of Connecticut women's track and field team were named to the 2011 Division I Track and Field All-Academic team. Redshirt senior Meghan Cunningham (Simsbury, Conn.), junior Ilva Bikanova (Madonas, Latvia), and senior Heather Wilson (Homer, N.Y.) were all honored on Wednesday for their academic and athletic achievements.
"On a team that consistently demonstrates success as student-athletes, I am very pleased that we have had three young ladies named to the D-I All-Academic Track & Field Team. The criteria is stringent in that the cumulative grade point average along with recognition in national championship competition are assessed. To take care of business throughout a track and field year which effectively comprises the entire school year adds to the special recognition that these three have achieved. Their efforts continue our tradition of academic success," stated Head Coach Bill Morgan.
Cunningham, who also played soccer for the Huskies, earned her first USTFCCCA All-Academic honor after building a 3.368 cumulative grade point average and being a finalist in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 3,000m steeplechase. Cunningham, a marketing major, was also a three-time BIG EAST All-Academic team member.
Bikanova, a physiology and neurobiology major, received her first USTFCCCA All-Academic accolade after compiling a 3.595 GPA and competing in the NCAA Finals for the high jump. Also, the Second Team All-American was recently announced as part of the BIG EAST All-Academic team.
Wilson is a kinesiology major who holds a 3.396 cumulative GPA heading into her senior year and is the final Husky to be named to this year's USTFCCCA All-Academic team. Wilson competes in several events for the Huskies and is a two-time All-American as she earned First Team All-America in the indoor season for the 800m and Second Team All-America in the indoor season for the distance medley relay. Wilson, a three-time member of the BIG EAST All-Academic squad, holds UConn records in the 4x800m in both indoor and outdoor track and field.
The USTFCCA named 663 athletes to this year's All-Academic Team who represent 172 institutions. The criteria for making the team include a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and have met one of the following criteria: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).
Players Mentioned
