IRVING, Texas - The Baylor track and field team had 25 student-athletes earn a spot on the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 team, the league office announced Tuesday.
The Baylor women's team placed a total of 14 members on the team with 13 first-team honorees and one second-team selection.
On the men's side for a third-straight year, Greg Bostick, who is working on his Masters of Accounting, was one of four men’s athletes across the Big 12 to be nominated with a 4.0 GPA. In total, the BU men had nine first-teamers and two second-team honorees.
The women's squad was highlighted by had two athletes returning for a third-straight time to the first team in Jenna Pfeiffer and Kaylyn Schultz.
Meanwhile, Maggie Montoya, Jessica Purtell and Annie Rhodes were honored on the first team for a second-straight season.
First-time honorees named to the women's first team included Haleigh Blackwell, Justise Dayries, Cion Hicks, Kaitlynn Lindsey, Juanita Mainoo, Peyton Thomas, Catherine Zabilski and Madie Zimmerman.
Dayries had previously been honored on the 2015 second team. Blackwell (2014) and Zimmerman (2015) had each been Academic All-Big 12 first-team selections in cross country. Thomas (2014 & ’15) and Zabilski (2013 & ’15) are two-time first-team honorees in cross country.
On the second team, Kiana Hawn carded her first recognition.
On the men's side, Bostick was joined on the first team by Eric Anderson, Matt Galvin, JR Hardy, Chase Hood, Chris McElroy, Matthew Parham, Kyle Scanlan and Nick Ucherek.
Bostick garnered his fourth career accolade, while McElroy was recognized for the third consecutive year. Hood was honored for a second-straight season, while Anderson, Galvin Parham and Ucherek were first time first-team honorees.
Galvin had previously been a second-team selection in each of the past two seasons. Hardy was previously honored as twice on the first team in cross country (2013 & ’15). Scanlan was a three-time first-team honoree in cross country (2013, ’14 & ’15). Anderson and Parham were both first-team picks in 2015 for cross country.
Nabbing second-team recognition was Robert Dutton and Felix Obi.
Overall, the Big 12 Conference named 222 student-athletes to the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 Teams. A total of 133 individuals were recognized on the women's team (117 first team, 16 second team), while the men's team featured 89 student-athletes (66 first team, 23 second team).
Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services, the track and field academic all-league squad consisted of 183 first-team members combined with 39 on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.
To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative over the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of their team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.
The Baylor track and field team will compete this weekend at the 2016 Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday through Sunday.
