Report for June 3, 2004
Calvin Cross Country/Track & Field Programs
Land Five on CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Men's/Women'sTeams
The Calvin cross country and track and field teams have already proven that they can produce high marks in the field of competition this year. Now they are showing they can also score high in the classroom.
Five members of the Calvin cross country and track and field teams have been named to CoSIDA Academic All-District IV teams in the cross country/track and field college division. Three are from the Calvin men's cross country and track and field programs while two are from the women's teams.
Named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV men's team are seniors Tim Avery, Hendrik Kok and Matt Edwards. Named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV women's team are senior Jessie Lair and junior Laura Hamilton. All five individuals now advance to the national ballot and are eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America consideration.
The college division of the CoSIDA Academic All-America program includes NCAA II, NCAA III and NAIA schools. The CoSIDA Academic All-District and All-America teams are selected by the College Sports Information Director's Association of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20.
Avery is from Rochester, New York and is a graduate of Gates-Chili High School. Avery is receiving CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for the third time in his career as he was a second team selection in 2002 and a first team selection last year. This past fall, Avery helped lead the Calvin men's cross country team to a national title as he placed 15th at the NCAA III Championships. A three-time first team All-MIAA selection in cross country, Avery has also been a two-time All-MIAA selection in track and field.
At the MIAA Track and Field Championships, Avery captured the league crown in the 5,000 meters. He later qualified for the NCAA III Championships in the 10,000 meters where he finished 12th.
Avery was graduated from Calvin this past May with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English and a minor in physical education. He carried a 3.81 grade point average at Calvin and was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and has been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll three times.
Avery was recently selected as the recipient of Calvin's Bere' Memorial Award * given to the top senior male student-athlete at Calvin College.
Kok is from Lynden, Washington and is a graduate of Lynden Christian High School. He is receiving CoSIDA All-District IV honors for the second time in his career as he was named to the second team in 2003.
A two-time NCAA III Cross Country All-American, Kok also played a key role in Calvin's national title this fall as he took eighth at the NCAA III Championships. At the Great Lakes Regional meet one week prior, Kok took first place and was later named Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.
This spring, Kok qualified for the NCAA III Track and Field Championships in the 5,000 meter run for the third time in his Calvin career. He placed 15th at the national meet. Kok is a three-time All-American in track and field.
A biology major, Kok carries a 3.65 grade point average and plans to return to Calvin next fall for his final season of cross country eligibility.
Edwards is making his first appearance on the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV team.
Edwards hails from Grand Blanc and is a graduate of Grand Blanc High School. Edwards recently completed a superb senior season of distance running as he garnered All-America accolades in track and field with a fifth place finish in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA III Championships. Edwards just missed another All-America certificate in the 5,000 meters as he placed ninth. At the Hillsdale Gina Relays April 23, Edwards posted the fastest time in the 10,000 meters in NCAA III track and field this spring as he clocked in at 29:48. Edwards was later the MIAA champion in the 10,000 meters and earned a spot on the All-MIAA team.
Earlier this fall, Edwards was part of six Calvin cross country All-Americans as he placed 30th at the NCAA III Cross Country Championships. He was also a member of the All-MIAA first team and Great Lakes All-Region team in cross country, placing in the top 10 at the MIAA Championships and Great Lakes Regional meet.
Edwards was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in engineering. He carried a grade point average of 3.40.
On the women's side, Lair is making her third straight appearance on the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV team as she was a second team choice in 2002 and a first team choice in 2003.
A native of West Bloomfield and a graduate of Southfield Christian High School, Lair was a two-time NCAA III cross country All-American at Calvin, placing 15th at the 2003 NCAA III Championships and 13th in 2002. A four-time member of the All-MIAA first team in cross country, Lair was also named the Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year this fall after taking first place at the Great Lakes Regional meet. In addition, she was named the MIAA's MVP in cross country twice.
In track and field, Lair was a three-time All-MIAA selection and a three-time national qualifier. She also posted an NCAA III provisional qualifying time in the 10,000 meters this spring. She is the school record holder in the 10,000 meters with a time of 36:01 established back in 2002.
Lair was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in education with an emphasis in art. She carried a 3.70 grade point average at Calvin was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List, a four-time member of the College Cross Country Coaches All-Academic team and a three-time member of the USTCA All-Academic team in track and field.
Hamilton is from Downers Grove, Illinois. She is a graduate of Timothy Christian High School and is making her second straight appearance on the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV team. Hamilton recently wrapped up a sensational junior campaign on the Calvin women's track and field team as she was a part of three All-America performances at the NCAA III Championships, helping Calvin to a second place team finish and a school record team point total of 54.3 points.
At the national meet, Hamilton took third in the 400 meter hurdles with a school record time of 1:00.70. She also ran a leg on Calvin's 4x100 meter relay team that took fourth and its 4x400 meter relay team that took third. Hamilton has been on five All-America relay teams during her career and has recorded six All-America performances overall. She served as a team captain this past spring and led the Knights to their 15th straight MIAA title in track and field.
Hamilton is a three-time MIAA champion in the 400 meter hurdles and was also the MIAA champion in the 100 meter hurdles this past spring. She is a three-time All-MIAA selection in track and field and a two-time USTCA All-Academic selection in track and field.
Hamilton is majoring in chemical engineering and carries a 3.91 grade point average. She is a six-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Wed Jun 2 23:57:05 2004
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