Butler Leads The Nation In Track & Field Academics

Butler ranked among the top five teams for both men and women and wound up as the top combined program among schools honored by the U. S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as 2009 Division I All-Academic Track and Field Teams.  A total of 67 men’s teams and 130 women’s programs were recognized by the coaches’ association.

Butler’s women ranked second among all teams honored with a combined team grade point average of 3.547.  Tennessee-Chattanooga led all women’s teams with a 3.550 GPA.  The Butler men ranked fourth with a team GPA of 3.347, trailing DePaul (3.419), Brown (3.390) and Yale (3.370).  Butler edged out Yale (ranked third among men’s teams and fifth among women’s) as the top combined program. 

“To have the top-ranked combined team grade point average in the nation is truly a rare feat,” said Butler track and field coach Matt Roe.  “It speaks volumes about the type of student-athlete we have in our program and about their hard work in the classroom.  This is a proud day for Butler track and field.”

Team recognition by the USTFCCCA is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievement.  To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade point average.

In addition to the team honors, five members of the Butler men’s track team were recognized on the 2009 USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic Track and Field Team.  Named to the honor squad from Butler were senior Andy Baker and juniors Kris Gauson, Stephen Lisgo, Joe MacDonald and Rob Mullett.  Baker, a two-time cross country All-American, was named to the Academic All-America Team earlier this year.  Lisgo was selected as the 2009 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, while Gauson was named the 2009 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.  MacDonald qualified for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in the 5,000 meter run, while Mullett was a 2009 NCAA regional qualifier in the 1,500 meter run. 

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, the student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.