Atherley Named Track & Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami’s Michelle Atherley was named the 2019 ACC Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year, while five other Miami women joined her on the All-ACC Academic Team as announced by the league Thursday afternoon.
Debbie Ajagbe, Atherley, Carolyn Brown, Selina Dantzler, Samantha Gonzalez and Brittny Ellis were all selected to the 2019 All-ACC Academic Women’s Indoor Track and Field Team.
Atherley, a senior majoring in political science and minoring in public relations, is a four-time member of Miami’s Athletic Director’s Honor Roll and has been named to both the university’s Dean’s List and Provost Honor Roll.
The North Port, Fla., native concluded the indoor season with a gold medal performance to win the NCAA finals in the women’s pentathlon with an ACC-record 4,547 points. Atherley was Miami’s seventh indoor national title winner, while becoming the 11th different Hurricane to win an NCAA crown and 10th woman to do so.
The ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards were established in September of 2007 to be awarded annually to the top junior or senior student-athlete in their respective sports. Candidates for the awards must have maintained a 3.0 grade point average for their careers, as well as a 3.0 for each of the last two semesters.
Ajagbe closed out her sophomore indoor campaign by earning a bronze medal in the women’s weight throw at the ACC Indoor Championships. The Miami native finished the season with a personal-best mark of 20.75m to earn her first conference medal in an indoor season. A mechanical engineering major, Ajagbe is a three-time Book Buster Club and Athletic Director Honor Roll member, along with being named to the Dean’s List. She is a three-time All-ACC Academic Team Selection.
Brown concluded the indoor season by earning her first individual medal at the ACC Indoor Championships with a silver medal in the women’s 60m dash. Brown’s time of 7.32 seconds was not only a personal-best, but also ranks as the fifth-fastest time in program history. The senior majoring in psychology is a three-time All-ACC honoree, a four-time Book Buster and Athletic Director’s Honor Roll member and was named to the Dean’s List once.
An economics major, Dantzler had a standout indoor freshman campaign capped by a bronze medal in the women’s shot put with a personal-best mark of 15.90m, which ranks fourth in UM history. Dantzler was the lone freshman to medal at ACCs to help earn her first All-ACC Academic Team selection.
Gonzalez was part of Miami’s seventh-place finish in the women’s 4x400m relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships, posting a time of 3:32.62 that ranks fourth in Miami history. Gonzalez earned USTFCCCA All-America Second Team Honors and helped the Canes win the ACC Indoor 4×400 title to lead the Canes to their third ACC Indoor title in the past four seasons. The senior majoring in Sports Administration has had a remarkable career with the Canes not only on the track, but also in the classroom. Gonzalez is a five-time Book Buster Club Member, has been named to both the Athletic Honor Roll and Dean’s List four times, Provost Honor Roll twice and the President’s Honor Roll once. This is Gonzalez’s second All-ACC Academic Team honor of her career.
Ellis had a standout season returning to the track as the Gurnee, Ill., native reached the NCAA Indoor Championships in the 400m, finishing ninth overall with a time of 53.17 seconds. Ellis claimed the gold medal in the same event at the ACCs and was part of Miami’s ACC winning 4x400m relay team. The redshirt senior has been a Book Buster Club member, Athletic Director Honor Roll selectee and Dean’s List recipient an astounding seven times and was named to the Provost Honor Roll three times. Ellis is a five-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in selecting the All-ACC Academic Team.
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released in July.
Every member of the 2019 All-ACC Academic Indoor Track and Field Teams also earned All-America and/or All-ACC honors during the most recent season, and/or was named an ACC Performer of the Week.
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