Academic recognition has become common for the Idaho track and field program.
Last month, both men’s and women’s teams were recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their excellence in education while earning All-Academic accolades for the second consecutive season.
Teams must post at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA to qualify for this award. In total, 122 men’s and 220 women’s teams were recognized.
The women’s team ended with a 3.40 GPA, while the men finished with a 3.10.
Idaho track and field director Tim Cawley said the team’s recognition is important for the program moving forward.
“Since I’ve been here, our kid’s GPA has gone up each semester,” Cawley said. “We’re excited and look to keep that tradition moving the right direction. The athletes have worked incredibly hard and been dedicated in the process. It’s exciting to earn awards and being recognized for their hard work.”
Cawley said he believes their success is owed in part to encouraging the team to focus on the process rather than the outcomes on and off the track.
According to Cawlye, the team has some of the least number of study hours required. But it hasn’t stopped them from making school a priority. “I want them to learn the habit on studying on their own,” Cawley said. “Most of our kids don’t have study tables but a lot of our newcomers and those struggling with their grades have them. If you have a GPA above 3.0, like most of my athletes, then I’m sure the student has figured it out and study independently just fine.”
Above all, Cawley said time management is the key.
“Time management is what a lot of athletes get taught at a young age,” Cawley said. “It’s one of the neat values that sports teach us and it’s a big part of on what getting good grades is. You have to manage your time and put the work in.”
In addition to the team’s recognition, distance runner and Idaho graduate Kinsey Gomez also earned All-Academic honors where the cutoff is a 3.25 GPA and meeting competitive standards in an athlete’s event qualifies a person to earn individual honors.
Gomez ended the season with a 4.0 GPA and competed in the NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10,000-meter race in June.