STAMFORD, Conn. Three Western Athletic Conference athletes were named to the 2001-02 Verizon Academic All-America Womens Track/Cross Country Teams. Tulsas Debbie Cardenas and Charlotte Sanderson both earned first-team honors, while Rices Allison Beckford was named to the second-team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Cardenas, a senior from Jefferson City, Mo., earned a 4.00 GPA in Accounting, garnering her a first-team selection to the 2001-02 team. Cardenas placed 20th at this years WAC Cross Country Championships. She also picked up an eighth- and sixth-place finish in the 1,500m and 5,000m, respectively at the WAC Outdoor Championship, helping the Hurricane to a sixth-place finish.
Sanderson, a senior from York, England, picked up first-team honors with her 4.00 GPA in Biology. Sanderson led the Golden Hurricane, taking fourth at the 2001 WAC Cross Country Championship. She was also the highest finisher in Tulsas seven meets this season, finishing in the top five, five times.
Beckford, a sophomore from Sawanna-la-Mar, Jamaica, earned a second-team nod with her 3.34 in Kinesiology. Beckford was both the NCAA and WAC Champion in the 400m, in both the indoor and outdoor championships this season. She set a new WAC record in the both events as well. Her win in the NCAA Indoor Championship, helped the Owls to a fifth-place finish.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Verizon Academic All-America program, which was founded by CoSIDA in 1952 to recognize collegiate student-athletes for the their outstanding achievements in the classroom and on the playing field. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the nation level.
For more information on Cross Country, Track and Field or any WAC sports, visit www.wacsports.com.