NEW ORLEANS – Eastern Illinois had four track and field athletes honored for their academic and athletic success this week as the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association released its 2009-10 All-Academic squad. The four honored Panthers were Tyler Arnholt, Megan Gingerich, Erin O'Grady and Jaimee Roy.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete 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 participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships (including preliminary rounds) in their respective event.
Arnholt was a first team All-Ohio Valley Conference selection winning the discus at the OVC Outdoor Championships with a throw of 173'3”. That mark matched Arnholt's career best which ranks 10th on the EIU career list. He would place 29th at the NCAA Regional with a throw of 165'8”. Arnholt holds a 3.71 GPA in athletic training.
Gingerich was the OVC Female Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season and a first team All-OVC selection at the outdoor championships with a win in the 800m. She posted a school record mark of 2:06.46 in the 800m at the IU Billy Hayes and was 16th at the NCAA Regional with a time of 2:07.41. Gingerich holds a 3.86 GPA in communications disorders and was a second team Academic All-Region V selection by CoSIDA.
O'Grady was a second team All-OVC selection in the steeplechase as she placed second at the outdoor championships with a time of 11:24.07. She continued to train as the season continued posting a school record mark in the event of 10:44.45 at the Louisville Twilight which earned her the final spot in the NCAA Regional. O'Grady would place 35th at the NCAA Regional with a time of 10:54.33. The senior graduated with a degree in Spanish and a 3.81 GPA. O'Grady was also a second team Academic All-Region V selection by CoSIDA.
Roy had an outstanding freshman season for the Panthers as she set an early mark in the long jump of 19'9.50” at the SIUE Gateway Classic which ranks second on the EIU career list. Roy would earn a spot at the NCAA Regional where she placed 47th with a mark of 17'1.25”. Earlier this summer Roy competed in the US Track and Field Junior National Championships placing 14th. Roy is a family consumer sciences major with a 3.90 GPA.
