Program-Record 20 Individuals, Both Liberty Teams Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors
7/22/2021 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
The 2021 Liberty men's and women's track & field squads were each honored as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. Meanwhile, a program-record 20 Flames and Lady Flames garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
During Lance Bingham's first season at the helm, the Lady Flames posted a 3.47 team GPA. Meanwhile, the men's track & field squad recorded a 3.07 team GPA.
Liberty's 20 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honorees nearly double the previous program record of 11 set in 2018.
A dozen Lady Flames were named to this year's USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, including Adelyn Ackley, Calli Doan, Meredith Engle, Kali Grayson, Mackenzie Hainley, Anna Hostetler, Marie Hostetler, Chelsea Igberaese, Taylen Langin, Rachel Milnes, Makenzy Mizera and Noel Palmer.
The Flames' eight honorees on the 2021 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team include Samuel Arter, Jovaine Atkinson, Warren Barrett, Juan Pablo Germain Ronco, John Hicks, Anders Janes, Felix Lawrence and Gabriel Willis.
Atkinson becomes the first Liberty athlete ever to be named to four USTFCCCA All-Academic teams for track & field, following his recognitions in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Palmer is the fourth Lady Flame ever to make a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic squads, as she was previously recognized in 2018 and 2019. She joins Tanner Ealum, Jennifer Klugh and Cortney Strohman in exclusive company.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met at least one of the following athletic standards. For the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the preliminary round).
Liberty's 2021 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Adelyn Ackley (Distance, Mears, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.67
Major: Camp & Outdoor Adventure Leadership – Sport Outreach
Calli Doan (Distance, Apex, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.99
Major: Exercise Science
Meredith Engle (Heptathlon, Dillsburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Computer Science
Kali Grayson (Javelin, Long Branch, N.J.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.40
Major: Zoo and Wildlife Biology
Mackenzie Hainley (Javelin, Denver, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Psychology
Anna Hostetler (Distance, Parnell, Iowa)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: English Education
Marie Hostetler (Distance, Parnell, Iowa)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Special Education
Chelsea Igberaese (Throws, Dacula, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.28
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
Taylen Langin (Pole Vault, Meridian, Idaho)
Cumulative GPA: 3.95
Major: Exercise Science
Rachel Milnes (Pole Vault, Jonesboro, Ark.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.97
Major: Biomedical Science
Makenzy Mizera (Jumps, Maryville, Mo.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.79
Major: Exercise Science
Noel Palmer (Distance, Forest, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Biology
Samuel Arter (Javelin, Hamilton, Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.95
Major: Human Performance
Jovaine Atkinson (Hurdles, Spanish Town, Jamaica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.83
Major: Aeronautics
Warren Barrett (Throws, Montego Bay, Jamaica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.36
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
Juan Pablo Germain Ronco (Hurdles, Santiago, Chile)
Cumulative GPA: 3.33
Major: Business Administration
John Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.77
Major: Exercise Science
Anders Janes (Pole Vault, Victoria, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.47
Major: Strategic Communications
Felix Lawrence (Hurdles, Portsmouth, Dominica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.46
Major: Aviation
Gabriel Willis (Jumps, Carrollton, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.45
Major: Strength & Conditioning Specialist
