Eastern Michigan Athletics
Five Tracksters Named Academic All-MAC for Indoor Season
4/11/2011 1:17:32 PM | Men's Track & Field, Women's Track & Field
Academic All-MAC is awarded to outstanding student-athletes with at least a 3.20 GPA
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) — Five Eastern Michigan University men's and women's track athletes were named to the 2010-11 Academic All-MAC Indoor Track and Field Team, as announced by the Mid-American Conference in a recent press release.
On the men's side, a total of nine athletes were awarded the honor, as two of EMU's own, Terefe Ejigu and Matt Hammersmith, took home the honors. For the women, 30 total athletes were selected, with three, Rachel Quaintance and Lauren Quaintance, and Courtney Calka, coming from the Eagles' roster.
Ejugu, a sophomore studying International Affairs, is perhaps Eastern's most valuable runner, having garnered that title after winning two gold medals and a bronze medal at the MAC Indoor Championships. Overall, Ejigu displayed dominance all season long, competing in eight races and winning six of them. In the two he did not win, he placed second in one and third in the other. He competed regularly for EMU in the mile run, the 3,000-meter run and the 5,000-meter run. Ejigu posted a 3.22 grade point average for the term.
Hammersmith, a senior captain for Eastern Michigan, currently boasts a 3.85 GPA as a physical education major. Over the season, he served as the lead leg for the team's best DMR team this season, as it took fifth place at the Meyo Invite at Notre Dame. Hammersmith also placed fourth at the MAC Championships for his squad. Only twice during the season did he finish outside of the top 10. He is set to graduate cum laude this spring.
Lauren Quaintance, will also graduate with a degree in elementary education – mathematics with her GPA of 3.80. Lauren, who is one of three EMU team captains, captured the 2010-11MAC Indoor Champion in the 800-meter run en route to helping her team capture its first MAC Title since 2000. She also anchored the DMR team to a second-place finish at Indoors as well. Quaintance's versatility was a key for the Eagles this season as the senior competed in six different events, placing top-three in 10 different races on the season. Additionally, the math major is set to graduate magna cum laude this spring.
Lauren's younger sister, Rachel Quaintance, joins her on the All-MAC academic team, as the sophomore carries a GPA: 3.97 and is also an elementary education major with a concentration on integrated science. Rachel had a breakout season for the Eagles during indoors, posting four top-five finishes, with a second-place finish in the 3,000-meter at the EMU Invite. She also had career-bests in the mile and 3,000-meter distances.
Courtney Calka, rounded out the list of Eagle honorees as a perfect 4.0 student. The exercise science student from Livonia, Mich. has shown equal dedication both on the track and in the classroom as the second-year standout has excelled at a scorching pace in each field. In addition to her perfection in the classroom, Calka only finished outside of the top five in two races the entire year. She was part of the DMR team which finished second at the Penn State National Invite this year, as well as opening the season with a 3000-meter win at GVSU. In the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs at the MAC Championships, Calka took fifth and third, respectively, in helping to secure the Eagles' first MAC Title in 11 years.
Academic All-MAC selections are for student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the meets for that particular sport. First year students and JC transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
2010-11 Men's Academic All-MAC Indoor Track and Field Team
Phil Ferguson, Akron
Mike McCall, Akron
Dylan Conway, Buffalo
John Calvert, Central Michigan
Terefe Ejigu, Eastern Michigan
Matt Hammersmith, Eastern Michigan
Destin Heasley, Kent State
Dexter Shrefe, Kent State
Dean Wood, Kent State
2010-11 Women's Academic All-MAC Indoor Track and Field Team
Katherine Lee, Akron
Kim Lorentz, Akron
Cassie Schenck, Akron
Valerie Wert, Akron
Thekla Lorenz, Ball State
Heather Conger, Bowling Green
Megan Kelsey, Bowling Green
Brittani McNeal, Bowling Green
Barbara Powers, Bowling Green
Ajla Glavasevic, Buffalo
Becky O'Brien, Buffalo
Shante' White, Buffalo
Katie Christensen, Central Michigan
Danielle Dakroub, Central Michigan
Raeanne Lohner, Central Michigan
Alexandra Sisson, Central Michigan
Lauren Quaintance, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Quaintance, Eastern Michigan
Courtney Calka, Eastern Michigan
Diana Dumitrescu, Kent State
Katie Lenahan, Miami
Kelley Miller, Miami
Rachel Patterson, Miami
Jenner Sio, Northern Illinois
Mary Bull, Northern Illinois
Brittany Tyree, Ohio
Annie Beecham, Ohio
Iris Campbell, Western Michigan
Ashley Hunault, Western Michigan
Rachel Whitley, Western Michigan
On the men's side, a total of nine athletes were awarded the honor, as two of EMU's own, Terefe Ejigu and Matt Hammersmith, took home the honors. For the women, 30 total athletes were selected, with three, Rachel Quaintance and Lauren Quaintance, and Courtney Calka, coming from the Eagles' roster.
Ejugu, a sophomore studying International Affairs, is perhaps Eastern's most valuable runner, having garnered that title after winning two gold medals and a bronze medal at the MAC Indoor Championships. Overall, Ejigu displayed dominance all season long, competing in eight races and winning six of them. In the two he did not win, he placed second in one and third in the other. He competed regularly for EMU in the mile run, the 3,000-meter run and the 5,000-meter run. Ejigu posted a 3.22 grade point average for the term.
Hammersmith, a senior captain for Eastern Michigan, currently boasts a 3.85 GPA as a physical education major. Over the season, he served as the lead leg for the team's best DMR team this season, as it took fifth place at the Meyo Invite at Notre Dame. Hammersmith also placed fourth at the MAC Championships for his squad. Only twice during the season did he finish outside of the top 10. He is set to graduate cum laude this spring.
Lauren Quaintance, will also graduate with a degree in elementary education – mathematics with her GPA of 3.80. Lauren, who is one of three EMU team captains, captured the 2010-11MAC Indoor Champion in the 800-meter run en route to helping her team capture its first MAC Title since 2000. She also anchored the DMR team to a second-place finish at Indoors as well. Quaintance's versatility was a key for the Eagles this season as the senior competed in six different events, placing top-three in 10 different races on the season. Additionally, the math major is set to graduate magna cum laude this spring.
Lauren's younger sister, Rachel Quaintance, joins her on the All-MAC academic team, as the sophomore carries a GPA: 3.97 and is also an elementary education major with a concentration on integrated science. Rachel had a breakout season for the Eagles during indoors, posting four top-five finishes, with a second-place finish in the 3,000-meter at the EMU Invite. She also had career-bests in the mile and 3,000-meter distances.
Courtney Calka, rounded out the list of Eagle honorees as a perfect 4.0 student. The exercise science student from Livonia, Mich. has shown equal dedication both on the track and in the classroom as the second-year standout has excelled at a scorching pace in each field. In addition to her perfection in the classroom, Calka only finished outside of the top five in two races the entire year. She was part of the DMR team which finished second at the Penn State National Invite this year, as well as opening the season with a 3000-meter win at GVSU. In the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs at the MAC Championships, Calka took fifth and third, respectively, in helping to secure the Eagles' first MAC Title in 11 years.
Academic All-MAC selections are for student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the meets for that particular sport. First year students and JC transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
2010-11 Men's Academic All-MAC Indoor Track and Field Team
Phil Ferguson, Akron
Mike McCall, Akron
Dylan Conway, Buffalo
John Calvert, Central Michigan
Terefe Ejigu, Eastern Michigan
Matt Hammersmith, Eastern Michigan
Destin Heasley, Kent State
Dexter Shrefe, Kent State
Dean Wood, Kent State
2010-11 Women's Academic All-MAC Indoor Track and Field Team
Katherine Lee, Akron
Kim Lorentz, Akron
Cassie Schenck, Akron
Valerie Wert, Akron
Thekla Lorenz, Ball State
Heather Conger, Bowling Green
Megan Kelsey, Bowling Green
Brittani McNeal, Bowling Green
Barbara Powers, Bowling Green
Ajla Glavasevic, Buffalo
Becky O'Brien, Buffalo
Shante' White, Buffalo
Katie Christensen, Central Michigan
Danielle Dakroub, Central Michigan
Raeanne Lohner, Central Michigan
Alexandra Sisson, Central Michigan
Lauren Quaintance, Eastern Michigan
Rachel Quaintance, Eastern Michigan
Courtney Calka, Eastern Michigan
Diana Dumitrescu, Kent State
Katie Lenahan, Miami
Kelley Miller, Miami
Rachel Patterson, Miami
Jenner Sio, Northern Illinois
Mary Bull, Northern Illinois
Brittany Tyree, Ohio
Annie Beecham, Ohio
Iris Campbell, Western Michigan
Ashley Hunault, Western Michigan
Rachel Whitley, Western Michigan
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