This past week the US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its men's All-Academic selections for 2011, which included four honorees from the University of Redlands. Freshman Seth Drake (Ramona, CA), senior Tim Hoesterey (La Quinta, CA), sophomore Tommy Marshall (Hillsboro, OR) and junior Richard Nakaoka (Manhattan Beach, CA) collected this award based on academic and athletic success.
In all, 200 student-athletes from 72 institutions from all three NCAA levels were honored by the USTFCCCA. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track & Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher while meeting an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark in an individual or relay event during the current indoor or outdoor season.
Drake, a rookie sprinter for the U of R, collected 11 top-five finishes in 2011, which included multiple victories as a member of the 4x100m Relay. He also earned All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) honors in the 100m Dash (11.15) and the 4x100m Relay (41.30). Furthermore, the sprinter contributed to the quartet that recorded the fourth fastest time in program history (41.19) en route to gaining All-America laurels. On top of his running abilities, Drake earned UR Scholar-Athlete honors after posting a 3.67 cumulative GPA as a Biology major.
A seasoned veteran for the Bulldogs, Hoesterey specialized in the quarter-mile events, clinching All-Conference times in the 400m Hurdles (54.55) and the 4x400m Relay (3:16.89). In his final campaign at Redlands, he made his first appearance at the NCAA Championships, qualifying as a member of the mile relay team. This UR Scholar-Athlete graduated this past spring as a Business Administration major with a 3.54 cumulative GPA.
In his sophomore season, Marshall made significant improvements in the distance events en route to an All-Academic season. He tallied 11 top-five finishes in all, highlighted by a career-best time of 1:54.41 in the 800m Run during the Cal State LA Last Chance Meet. Marshall defended his 800m title at the Redlands Invite and won the 1500m Run at the SCIAC-Quad Meet by clocking in at 4:02.42. This member of the 4x400m Relay was one of the 17 Redlands student-athletes who competed at the 2011 NCAA Championships. Marshall finished out his second year with the Bulldogs as a UR Scholar-Athlete with a cumulative GPA of 3.65.
Nakaoka added solid depth to the Maroon and Gray's sprint line-up during this junior campaign. Throughout the 2011 season, he posted eight top-three marks, highlighted by victories in the 4x100m Relay at the SCIAC No. 2 and No. 3 meets. In addition, he broke the 11.2 barrier in the 100m Dash on six different occasions. This Dean's List member also owns a 3.36 cumulative GPA as a Communicative Disorders major.
All four of these selections boast the honor of contributing to the team's first SCIAC title since 1964, which came on the heels of dethroning rival Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges after a 19-year hold on the championship.
In additional news, student-athletes from CMS, Occidental College and Whittier College represented the SCIAC on the All-Academic team.
For a complete list of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, please visit: