Marybeth Rocco (left), Elisha Jones (middle) and Krystal Baker (right) were honored for their academix and athletic excellence by the United State Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
WAYNESBURG, Pa. (July 30) – After qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Outdoor Track & Field Championships, a trio of Waynesburg's finest women's track athletes are receiving national attention for their work in the classroom.
Krystal Baker, Elisha Jones and Marybeth Rocco were all honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Associaion (USTFCCA) as members of its All-Academic team.
Jones, an athletic training major, earned the honor for a third-straight year after ending the 2010 outdoor season with a cumulative GPA of 3.92. The Russell, Pa. native also earned her second set of All-American laurels in the javelin after placing sixth in the event at the national championships.
Rocco just barely missed out on joining Jones on the medal stand after a ninth-place showing in the javelin at nationals. In the classroom, she maintained a flawless 4.0 GPA while pursuing a degree in marine biology.
Baker was the first Waynesburg woman to qualify for the NCAA Division III National Championships in the triple jump. Along with tying for 16th in the event, she also maintained a 3.30 cumulative GPA in athletic training. Baker was also named Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Women's Field Athlete of the Year in 2010.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met either the NCAA Division III indoor or outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard.
Wartburg led all squads with 12 women earning All-Academic status. Calvin notched 10 for the second-highest total. To see the names of all 330 honorees, click here.
