CSR (Hamilton and Smith Named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams)

June 27, 2005

Hamilton & Smith Named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans

GRAND RAPIDS - Calvin College has added two more individuals to its list of 2004-05 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans selected by CoSIDA ® as Laura Hamilton and Missy have been so honored in the women's cross country/track and field college division.

Hamilton has been named a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American while Smith has been named to the third team. Hamilton is receiving the award for the second straight year as she was named to the second team last year while Smith is receiving the award for the first time.

The award is indeed significant for Hamilton and Smith as they are part of only 45 cross country/track and field athletes selected as ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans in the women's college division which represents a broad spectrum of colleges and universities at the NCAA II, III and NAIA levels.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic 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. In addition, student-athletes must have completed one full academic year at their respective institutions.

Hamilton is from Downers Grove, Illinois. She is a graduate of Timothy Christian High School. Hamilton recently wrapped up a standout career on the Calvin women's track and field team. At the NCAA III Track and Field Championships at Wartburg College last month, 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. She has also been named to the USTCA Division III All-Academic team three times and is in line to receive the award for a fourth straight year.

Smith is from the Grand Rapids suburb of Ada and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School.

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 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.

Calvin completes the 2004-05 academic year with six ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans as Joel Veldhouse was selected to the first team in the men's soccer division, Hendrik Kok and Nate Meckes to the second team in the men's cross country/track and field division and Jeff Engbers to the third team in the men's cross country/track and field division.

Calvin has now had its athletes receive CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades 62 times including 36 times in the last eight years.

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Mon Jun 27 15:22:13 2005