COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --- South Dakota School of Mines junior mid-distance runner Kevin Ptak has earned the 2019 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Summit Award announced by the league office Thursday from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

This award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average (GPA), participating at the finals sites for each of the RMAC championships. All GPAs are based on a straight grading scale to ensure consistency among institutions. Any tie is broken by the number of credits completed. 

To be eligible for the award, student-athletes must be a sophomore or above, who participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must also be an active member of the team, traveling and competing at the championship. 

Ptak is a junior from Allen, Texas, with a 4.00 GPA majoring in Electrical Engineering. At the RMAC Indoor Championships, he will compete in the 200- and 400-meter dashes along with the 4x400 relay and distance medley relay teams.

"This is great for Kevin and I am proud that he earned this award," said Hardrocker track and field head coach Steve Johnson. "The RMAC is the premiere track and field league of NCAA Div. II, and it's a truly an honor when our program and our scholar athletes earn these types of recognition. Kevin is as talented in the classroom as he is on the track and very deserving of these accolades."

Ptak heads in the RMAC meet ranked 11^th in the 400 dash. His best time in that event this season is 49.78 seconds. He ranks 20^th in the 200 dash – clocking a 22.65 as his top mark of the season. The DMR squad is ranked eight heading into the conference championships (10:13.33) and the 4x400 relay team is in second place (3:18.17).