Shughart Earns CSC Academic All-America® Second Team Distinction
7/14/2026 12:00:00 PM | Track and Field
LYNCHBURG, Va. – A month after becoming an All-American for the first time, Liberty's Ben Shughart earned CSC Academic All-America® honors for the second time in his career. He was named to the 2026 CSC Academic All-America® Men's Track & Field/Cross Country second team on Tuesday.
Shughart, who was previously a CSC Academic All-America® third team performer in 2024, joins Jovaine Atkinson (2020 and 2021) as the only Liberty men's track & field athletes ever to earn multiple CSC Academic All-America® honors.
A second team All-American in the men's javelin this season, Shughart was Liberty's only CSC Academic All-America® honoree in any sport for the 2025-26 academic year and the lone CUSA men's track & field/cross country athlete to garner this distinction in 2026.
A native of Shippensburg, Pa., Shughart maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his undergraduate studies in sport management and a 3.61 GPA as he worked toward an MBA.
Outside of his CSC Academic All-America® recognitions, Shughart's top academic honor was the 2024 NCAA Elite 90 Award for men's outdoor track & field, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
This season, Shughart has collected a trio of academic honors for the third time each, including CSC Academic All-District®, CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal and CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Despite a torn UCL in his right (throwing) elbow, Shughart placed ninth in the men's javelin at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships last month, earning second team All-America honors. It marked the highest finish by a Liberty men's javelin thrower in meet history and the top NCAA finish by a CUSA men's javelin competitor since 2016.
Shughart's stellar senior season of javelin throwing also included a new program record (253-11 at the Virginia Opener), his second CUSA title (242-3, the longest throw at the CUSA meet since 2021) and a Penn Relays runner-up finish.
Shughart, who was previously a CSC Academic All-America® third team performer in 2024, joins Jovaine Atkinson (2020 and 2021) as the only Liberty men's track & field athletes ever to earn multiple CSC Academic All-America® honors.
A second team All-American in the men's javelin this season, Shughart was Liberty's only CSC Academic All-America® honoree in any sport for the 2025-26 academic year and the lone CUSA men's track & field/cross country athlete to garner this distinction in 2026.
A native of Shippensburg, Pa., Shughart maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his undergraduate studies in sport management and a 3.61 GPA as he worked toward an MBA.
Outside of his CSC Academic All-America® recognitions, Shughart's top academic honor was the 2024 NCAA Elite 90 Award for men's outdoor track & field, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.
This season, Shughart has collected a trio of academic honors for the third time each, including CSC Academic All-District®, CUSA Commissioner's Academic Medal and CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Despite a torn UCL in his right (throwing) elbow, Shughart placed ninth in the men's javelin at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships last month, earning second team All-America honors. It marked the highest finish by a Liberty men's javelin thrower in meet history and the top NCAA finish by a CUSA men's javelin competitor since 2016.
Shughart's stellar senior season of javelin throwing also included a new program record (253-11 at the Virginia Opener), his second CUSA title (242-3, the longest throw at the CUSA meet since 2021) and a Penn Relays runner-up finish.
Players Mentioned
Javelin
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