Junior Jake Baechle (Aurora, OH) and junior Richard Valenti
(Palm Desert, CA) of the University of Redlands track & field
team received NCAA Division III U.S. Track & Field and Cross
Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men’s All-Academic
laurels as a result of their academic and athletic success,
according to an announcement made today by the USTFCCCA.
Requirements for the USTFCCCA All-Academic distinction include a
minimum of a 3.30 cumulative GPA and an automatic or provisional
qualifying mark for either the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track
& Field Championships or the NCAA Division III Indoor Track
& Field Championships.
As a Business major, Baechle has compiled a 3.347 cumulative GPA
and has become one of the most talented 800m runners in program
history. A two-time Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (SCIAC) Champion in the event, he has qualified for the
NCAA Championships in each of his two seasons running for the
Bulldogs. In 2009, he barely missed the cutoff for finals at the
national championship meet, placing ninth with a time of 1:51.38.
Baechle’s season-best standard of 1:51.28 is the
third-fastest in program history. This is Baechle’s second
USTFCCCA All-Academic citation.
Valenti, a History major, owns a 3.476 cumulative GPA and is not a
stranger to receiving awards recognizing his talents both in and
out of the classroom. He is a two-time Redlands Scholar-Athlete and
earned a spot on the ESPN The Magazine/College Sports
Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Men's Academic
All-District VIII Track & Field/Cross Country First Team
for the College Division just one month ago. His first-place heave
of 157’ 5” in the Discus Throw at the SCIAC Top-4 Meet
cracked the provisional qualifying mark for the 2009 NCAA
Championships. He competed at the 2008 NCAA Championships in the
Discus Throw, placing 11th. This is Valenti’s second USTFCCCA
All-Academic recognition.
The Redlands men’s track & field team took second at the
2009 SCIAC Championships and provisionally qualified four for the
2009 NCAA Championships.
For a complete list of honorees, please click here.