Aug. 28, 2002
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Western Carolina University women's track and field team was named to the 2002 All-Academic Team as released by the National Collegiate Division I Track Coaches Association. Additionally, Laura Tieszen and Michelle Velez were named to the individual women's All-Academic Team.
A team must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.0 to be named to the All-Academic Team. The Lady Cats posted a 3.16 GPA for the 2001-02 academic year. WCU was the only SoCon team to make the list this year.
For an individual to qualify for the All-Academic Team, he or she must posses a 3.1 GPA or higher for 2001-02. The student-athlete also had to be a NCAA provisional qualifier last year. Tieszen earned a 3.56 GPA during her freshman year at WCU to qualify for the national list. She provisionally qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the pole vault, clearing her highest mark of 12'7.5". Tieszen was also a qualifier for the USA Track and Field Junior National Championship last year.
Velez, a sophomore last season, posted a 3.52 GPA for the year and also provisionally qualified for the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault to earn a spot on the All-Academic list. Velez was busy this past year, holding a competitive schedule outside of Catamount athletics. She represented Puerto Rico at the North American, Central American, Caribbean Games this summer as the Puerto Rican national record holder in the pole vault. She also participated in the Ibero Americano Games. Velez is the school's indoor record holder in the pole vault after clearing 13 feet at the VMI Relays in 2002. She also tied WCU's outdoor record in the event last season, reaching 12'9.25".
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