CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JUNE 5, 2009
Members of Calvin Track and Field/Cross Country Programs Receive ESPN The
Magazine Academic All-District IV Honors
MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Four Calvin athletes have received ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV
honors in the track and field/cross country college division.
On the men's side, Erik Van Kampen has been so honored while on the women's
side, the Knights have three honorees in seniors Julie Bratt and Sarah
Wittingen and junior Jessica Koster. All four individuals now advance to the
national ballot and are now 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’sAssociation of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for nomination,
an individual must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum cumulative GPA
of 3.30.
Van Kampen hails from Elmhurst, Illinois. He is a graduate of Timothy
Christian High School. A chemical engineering major, Van Kampen carried a 3.53
grade point average. During his running career, Van Kampen was a three-time
NCAA III All-American in cross country. He was also the MIAA champion in the
10,000 meters in 2007 and 2009. He participated at the 2009 NCAA III Outdoor
Track and Field Championships, finishing 10th in the 10,000 meters. Van Kampen
was a two-time All-MIAA selection in track and field and a three-time selection
in cross country.
Bratt hails from Lynden, Washington. She is a graduate of Lynden Christian
High School. This is the second straight academic all-district selection for
Bratt as she was named to the ESPN The Magazine academic all-district second
team in 2008.
During her four-year career on the Calvin women's track and field team, Bratt
specialized in the triple jump and long jump. She was a four-time MIAA champion
in the triple jump. She was also the MIAA long jump champion in 2008 and was
named the 2008 MIAA Most Outstanding Field Event Performer. Bratt holds Calvin
and MIAA records in the triple jump. She also qualified for the NCAA III
Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the triple jump in 2008 and 2009. In
addition, she participated in the triple jump at the 2009 NCAA III Indoor Track
and Field Championships, placing ninth for her best-ever national finish.
An education major, Bratt carried a 3.68 grade point average and a four-time
member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
A native of Grand Rapids and a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School,
Koster is receiving ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors for the
first time. She carries a 4.0 grade point average while majoring in psychology
and occupational therapy.
A two-time All-MIAA selection in cross country and in track and field, Koster
was the MIAA champion in the 10,000 meters this spring. She was also the 2008
MIAA champion in the 5,000 meter run. She qualified for the 2009 NCAA III
Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the event and earned All-America
accolades, placing fifth. Koster also ran in Calvin's top seven at the 2008
NCAA III Cross Country Championships this fall, helping Calvin earn a national
runner-up finish.
A native of East Grand Rapids and a graduate of East Grand Rapids High School,
Wittingen is receiving all-district honors for the fourth straight year. She
was a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American in 2009.
This past March, Wittingen participated at the 2009 NCAA III Indoor Track and
Field Championships as a member of Calvin's 4x400 meter relay team. She helped
the relay team claim an All-America berth with a third place team finish.
During her outdoor track and field career, Wittingen was a 10-time NCAA III
All-American and was the 2008 national champion in the 400 meter hurdles.
She was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in accounting while
carrying a 3.99 grade point average.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Jun 4 09:28:13 2009
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