NEW ORLEANS, La. – The South Dakota School of Mines men's and women's track & field teams earned NCAA Div. II T&F Academic Team Honors announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)  earlier this week from the national office in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Hardrocker women's team earned a GPA of 3.30 which marked the program's seventh consecutive year to achieve the prestigious accomplishment. The SD Mines men's team registered a team GPA of 3.21 and earn All-Academic team honors for the second straight year.

"We are very proud of the hard work and effort our track and field scholar-athletes put in during the season both on the track and in the classroom," said Hardrocker track and field head coach Steve Johnson. Their dedication to academics and willingness to embrace the challenges posed to them is key to their success. They manage a balance between their academic loads and training.  Competing in Div. II athletics is a challenge ---it's great to see their efforts being recognized."

Also earning USTFCCA Individual All-Academic honors for the Hardrockers was standout pole vaulter Erica Keeble.

To qualify for USTFCCCA Individual All-Academic honors, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.30 and must have met at least one of the following athletic standards:

• Cumulative GPA: 3.25 or higher
• Athletic criteria for the award can be met in either the indoor season, the outdoor season, or both.
• Must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the certifying institution.

Keeble (3.762 GPA), who earned RMAC Indoor All-Academic First Team honors and named to the RMAC Outdoor Honor Roll,  had an outstanding 2018-19 season. She was ranked third in the nation at the end of the indoor season and earned a trip to NCAA Div. II Indoor Championships.

Keeble won both the outdoor and indoor events during the RMAC Championships this past year. Her indoor mark at the conference meet a new meet record (3.95 meters) as well as a SD Mines record (4.05 meters). During the RMAC Outdoor Championships, she cleared a height of 12-feet-6.25 inches to earn the RMAC event title. That mark also set a new stadium record.

"Erica had an outstanding track and field season. She had a strong start and just kept building momentum as the year went on. It was great to see her excel in such a tough conference and make an impact on the national level," Johnson said.
Keeble, now a junior, is a Computer Science and Applied Mathematics major from De Pere, Wisconsin and also the first Hardrocker to earn NCAA Div. II T&F All-Academic status.
 
The USTFCCCA is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents over 8,000 coaching members encompassing 94 percent of all NCAA track and field programs (Div. I, II, and III) and includes members representing the NAIA as well as a number of state high school coaches associations.
 
The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track and field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field?