Sophomore Hannah Chappell-Dick (left) has earned back-to-back All-Academic Team honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. (Photo by Eric Kelley)

Chappell-Dick and EMU women earn all-academic awards again

The Eastern Mennonite University women’s track & field team and sophomore Hannah Chappell-Dick (Bluffton, Ohio/Bluffton) picked up one final honor from the 2013-14 athletic year, as each was awarded for academic work by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Royals were one of 158 institutions to earn an All-Academic Team recognition.  Eastern Mennonite had a team GPA of 3.40, easily qualifying for the award for the second straight year.  To earn the award, a team must have a cumulative GPA of 3.10 or higher.

Chappell-Dick, who broke two EMU records and made a trip to nationals in the outdoor season, was one of 416 individuals to land a spot on the USTFCCCA’s All-Academic team.  The middle distance runner had the 10th-best 800m time in the nation during the season and became EMU’s first female track athlete at nationals since 2008.

To qualify for the team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met either of the following athletic standards: 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.

Chappell-Dick, a kinesiology major, put together a 3.84 GPA to earn her second consecutive All-Academic Team award.  Despite recovering from a bout with mono during the indoor season, Chappell-Dick broke outdoor program records in both the 800m and 1500m.  She also went to the cross country national championships last fall.