PROVO -- Three athletes from BYU were announced by ESPN Magazine to the Academic All-District men’s track and field/cross country team Thursday.
Seniors Dan Hinckley, All-American Whitney Neves and All-American Jacob Gustafsson were voted to the District 8 Second Team.
“I think all three of these athletes embody the phrase student athlete,” said BYU’s distance head coach Ed Eyestone. “They take the sport very seriously, but they also take their studies very seriously. It just goes to show that rigorous schedules mixed with hard work produce great rewards.”
Gustafssson, an accounting major from Mission Viejo, Calif. has maintained a 3.67 GPA. This Swedish native has had a strong senior year coming off of a successful cross country and track season. He is currently ranked third in the Mountain West Conference and 30th nationally for his performance in the 1500 meter with a final time of 3:43.41.
Gustafsson has a strong history being named to the All-MWC team, All-Academic Team, Academic All-MWC and an MWC Scholar Athlete throughout his college career.
As a senior, All-American pole vaulter Neves has ended his track and field career with high performances. Clearing a personal best height of 5.43 meters in the outdoor season, this Otto, Wyo. native has held a 3.90 GPA majoring in exercise science. Neves is currently ranked seventh in the nation for his mark in the pole vault.
Previous honors include being named to the All-MWC Indoor Team and earning All-America honors for his indoor performance as a junior.
“I’m really honored to be recognized for this,” said Neves. “My mom has always pushed academics as a focus, so it is an honor to have the hard work pay off. I have worked hard to keep a good perspective on school, and I’m glad to know my efforts have paid off.”
The final Cougar named to the team was Bellevue, Wash. senior Dan Hinckley. A chemical engineering major with a 3.93 GPA, Hinckley has had a successful career in both cross country and track.
As a junior in track, he was a MWC Scholar-Athlete whi
le in cross country was named to the Academic All-MWC team as a sophomore and as a senior.
In order to be nominated as an academic all-district consideration, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher. Nominees must have also reached a sophomore athletic and academic standing.