Aug. 6, 2008
2008 USTFCCCA Men's & Women's All-Academic Teams 
Cullowhee, N.C. - Five Western Carolina track & field student-athletes were today recognized by the United States Track & Field / Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). On the men's side, senior David Bowles, junior Kevin Johnson and sophomore Matt Evans were honored, with senior Raquel Ramseur and freshman Shalyn McMichael garnering the all-academic plaudits on the women's side.
A record total of 266 student-athletes representing 111 Division I institutions made up the men's 2008 All-Academic team, while a record total of 468 student-athletes representing 140 Division I institutions composed the women's 2008 All-Academic team.
The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Teams, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.
Evans posted a combined eight first-place finishes between both the indoor and outdoor seasons in the high jump and javelin throw. During the indoor portion of the slate, the Old Fort, N.C., native led the Southern Conference with a jump of 2.08 meters in the high jump. He established a school record in the same event during the outdoor season, clearing 2.15 meters at the Orange/Purple Classic in Clemson, S.C., while also setting a school benchmark in the javelin throw with a distance of 66.66 meters at the Florida Relays.
Evans finished 20th in the high jump at the NCAA outdoor championship, clearing 2.05 meters to just miss out on the finals.
Bowles was the Southern Conference Outdoor men's javelin champion, just edging out teammate, Evans, with a throw of 56.90 meters. Rounding out the trio of Catamounts on the men's all-academic squad was Johnson, who posted four, first-place finishes during the outdoor season as a part of the men's 4x100-meter relay team.
Ramseur, one of the most decorated women's track & field athletes in WCU history, recorded a combined seven, first-place finishes as an individual between the indoor and outdoor seasons. She also posted an additional six top podium finishes when factoring in relay events. The Charlotte, N.C., native sat atop seven of Western's top time performance charts this season, establishing three school records in her final season: 200-meter dash (23.43 at the Florida Relays); 400-meter dash (53.08 at the Georgia Tech Invitational); and 400-meter relay (44.95 at the NCAA East Regional).
WCU's lone women's entry into the outdoor national championships, Ramseur concluded her collegiate career with a 19th-place finish overall in the women's 400-meter dash.
Ramseur was joined by McMichael on the 4x400-meter relay team which qualified for the NCAA East Regional, finishing eighth in the region after winning their heat with a season-best time of 3:37.58. Both were named to the USTFCCCA All-East Regional squad as well.
In addition, Ramseur and Johnson were among seven Western Carolina student-athletes named Arthur Ashe, Jr., Sports Scholars earlier this year.
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