CoSIDA Release

SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. – Senior Erica Hess was selected to the 2010-11 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District Women's Track & Field/Cross Country First Team for the College Division of District 2, which encompasses all Division II, Division III, NAIA and junior colleges in the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

By virtue of her selection to the First Team, Hess will now advance to the national Academic All-America ballot. She has been a CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team selection for each of the past two seasons.

Hess, one of the best sprinters in school history, qualified all four years for the outdoor national championships in the 400 meters. This season, Hess placed 11th at the Division II national championships. She was twice an All-American with the 4x400-meter relay squad, achieving the feat as a freshman and sophomore.

At the PSAC outdoor championships, Hess won the 400-meter dash for the sixth time in her career. She is a three-time indoor champion and a three-time outdoor champion. She also placed seventh in the 200 meters. Hess holds the outdoor school record in the 400 meters with a time of 54.70 seconds that was set during her junior year at the national championships.

During the indoor track season, Hess won the indoor 400-meter championship after she broke her own PSAC meet record and school record with a PR of 56.33 seconds. She also finished fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 25.80 seconds. Hess was one spot short of qualifying to compete in the 400 at the indoor national meet.

Combining her indoor and outdoor track & field competition, Hess finishes her athletic career with 23 place-winning performances and 15 All-PSAC finishes at the PSAC championships. She is set to graduate this December.

SU had a total of four athletes receive academic all-district accolades for track & field/cross country: Hess, Neely Spence (first team), Bryan Beegle (men's first team) and Stephen Schelander (men's second team).

2010-11 Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District Award Winners

Football
Riley Bowen (Second Team; LB)

Women's Soccer
Alison Dowdrick (Second Team)

Women's At-Large
Amy Fisher (First Team; swimming)
Kristen Brooks (First Team; field hockey)

Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
Bryan Beegle (First Team)
Stephen Schelander (Second Team)

Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
Neely Spence (First Team)
Erica Hess (First Team)