New Orleans, La. - July 24, 2012 - Four members of the Springfield College men's track and field team were named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2012 Division III All-Academic Track & Field team.A total of 226 student-athletes representing 84 institutions compose the group. Springfield's Kevin Coyle, Ryan O'Connell, Zach Pietras, and Ryan Ux were all honored for their academic success.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met either of the following athletic standards: a student-athlete must have competed in an NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship or finished the regular season ranked in the national top 35 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 25 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org.
Coyle, O'Connell, and Pietras all competed for Springfield College at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships this season. Ux reached qualifying marks in the javelin before having his season cut short with an injury.
Ken Klatka, just inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in October, 2011, enters his 37th season as head coach of the men’s track and field program in 2012-2013. He ranks among the nation’s most successful coaches, with an overall record of 442 wins, 144 losses, and two ties for an impressive .753 winning percentage. Under his direction, Kevin Coyle '12 won the 2011 Division III Indoor Long Jump National Championship.
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