CSR (Smith and Hamilton Named to Academic All-District IV Team in Women's Track and Field)

June 3, 2005

Calvin Women's Track & Field Team Lands Two on ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Team

Two members of the Calvin women's track and field team have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV team in the cross country/track and field college division.

Named to the Academic All-District IV women's team are senior Laura Hamilton and junior Missy Smith. Both individuals now advance to the national ballot and are eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

The college division of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program includes NCAA II, NCAA III and NAIA schools. The 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.

Hamilton is from Downers Grove, Illinois. She is a graduate of Timothy Christian High School and is making her third straight appearance on the Academic All-District IV team. Hamilton recently wrapped up a standout career on the Calvin women's track and field team. At last week's NCAA III Track and Field Championships in Waverly, Iowa, she took eighth place in the 400 meter hurdles to capture All-America honors in the event for the second straight year. She also ran a leg in the prelims of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team that would later place fourth in the finals. Hamilton did not run in the finals of the relay because of an injury.

Over the course of her four-year career, Hamilton was a part of seven NCAA III track and field All-America performances. She served as a team captain this past spring and led the Knights to their 16th straight MIAA title in track and field.

Hamilton was also a four-time MIAA champion in the 400 meter hurdles * one of only two individuals to do so in the event in MIAA history. She was also a four-time All-MIAA selection in track and field and is in line to become a four-time All-Academic selection by the United States Track and Field Coaches Association (USTCA).

Hamilton was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in chemical engineering and carried a 3.95 grade point average. She was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and has been a three-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.

Smith is from the Grand Rapids suburb of Ada and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. She is making her first appearance on the Academic All-District IV team.

A two-time NCAA III Track and Field All-American in the pole vault, Smith was a key part of Calvin's national runner-up finish last weekend as she tied for fifth place in the pole vault. As a sophomore, Smith tied for fourth place in the pole vault at the national meet. She also qualified for the 2003 national meet as a freshman in the event, placing 14th.

Smith is also a three-time All-MIAA selection and a two-time league champion in the pole vault. This past May, she captured the MIAA title in the pole vault with a vault of 12-2 ½. Her season-best mark was 12-4 at the North Central Last Chance Meet May 19.

Smith carries a double-major in German and Asian studies and holds a minor in art history. She currently holds a 3.93 grade point average. She has plans to attend graduate school in architecture. She spent the 2004 fall semester studying overseas in China. Smith is a six-time member of the Calvin Dean's List, a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and is in line to become a three-time recipient of the USTCA All-Academic award.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Jun 3 13:07:37 2005