Seven members of the 2009 Hope track and field teams have been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association national all-academic team.
The seven Hope athletes are among 460 student-athletes from all NCAA Division III institutions to receive the distinction. To qualify, an athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.25 and obtained an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark for the national outdoor championships.
Hope athletes honored are John Donkersloot of Zeeland (Zeeland East HS), Leonie Grosse of Everswinkel, Germany, Emily Kreichelt of Northville (Northville HS); Nora Kuiper of Parchment (Parchment HS), Jeffrey Minkus of Glen Ellyn, Ill. (Glenbard West HS), Kara VandeGuchte of Hamilton (Hamilton HS), and Rachel Walton of Columbus, Ohio (Worthington Christian HS).
Five of the seven (Donkersloot, Kreichelt, Kuiper, Minkus and VandeGuchte) are being honored for the second straight year.
Kuiper, this year's NCAA Division III champion in the 100-meter dash, is the only senior in the group. Minkus will be a senior next school year. Honorees who will return next season as juniors are Donkersloot, Kreichelt, and VanderGuchte. Walton will be a sophomore. Grosse was an international student who will not be returning in 09-10.
Both the women's and men's track and field teams have been named to the association's team honor roll for the third consecutive year.
The Flying Dutch had a cumulative 3.441 grade point average to rank 27th among all NCAA Division III institutions. Two other MIAA women's teams achieved the honor roll distinction, Calvin (3.581), and Albion (3.470). Shenandoah University of Virginia topped the women's honor roll at 3.676.
The Flying Dutchmen had a cumulative 3.151 grade point average. Colorado College led the men's honor roll at 3.490. Two other MIAA men's teams joined Hope on the men's honor roll, Calvin (3.238) and Albion (3.100).