Eleven SAC Men's Track and Field Athletes Receive USTFCCCA Division II Academic Awards; Queens' Wallis and Meckes Named Scholar Athletes of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – Daniel Wallis of Queens (N.C.) (Men's Indoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year), Ryan Brown of Lincoln (Mo.) (Men's Indoor Field Athlete of the Year), Myles Hunter of Minnesota State (Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year) and Ricko Meckes of Queens (N.C.) (Men's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year) were honored by the US. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

Combining their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition during the recently completed academic year, these four men were the most exceptional among a group of 312 athletes who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. 

Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected as the highest finishing individual at the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships who achieved All-Academic status. Those athletes who won individual NCAA championships ranked higher in the tiebreaking process and cumulative GPA is weighted as the final advantage.

Separate awards were given to track and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, making up the four categories in total. 

Wallis was selected as Scholar Track Athlete of the indoor season after he compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.88. The graduate student and Guildford, United Kingdom native finished in second overall in the mile and eighth in the 3000, earning First Team All-American honors with his performance across both events. Wallis became the first member of the Queens (N.C.) program to win the Scholar Track Athlete of the Year award during indoors.

Brown was the choice as the Scholar Field Athlete of the indoor campaign as he worked towards a cumulative GPA of 3.37. The sophomore won the national title in the triple jump and placed third in the long jump at the indoor national championships. The St. Catherine, Jamaica native is just the second Blue Tiger in program history to win the award during the indoor season, joining Sedeekie Edie who won the top prize in 2016.

Hunter was the pick for Scholar Track Athlete of the Year for the outdoor season after he compiled cumulative GPA of 3.50. The senior and Conyers, Ga. native captured the national crown in the 110H at the outdoor championships. Hunter is first athlete to win a Scholar Athlete of the Year award in Minnesota State program history.

Meckes earned the Scholar Field Athlete of the Year award for his work during the outdoor campaign as he worked his way towards a cumulative GPA of 3.83. The graduate student from Germany won the title in the javelin at the outdoor championships. He is the first athlete in program history to win the Scholar Field Athlete of the Year award during outdoors.

ALL-ACADEMIC INDIVIDUALS

Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 312 men earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2018-19 track & field seasons. 

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic award, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have reached a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either the indoor or outdoor season.

Representing the South Atlantic Conference were the following student-athletes: