Ball State University Athletics
Indoor Track & Field Places Two On Academic All-MAC Squad
April 20, 2010 | Track & Field
MUNCIE, Ind. - - Ball State senior distance runner Vanessa Gilbert (Kettering, Ohio/Fairmont H.S.) and junior multi-event specialist Thekla Lorenz (Hamburg, Germany) have been named to the 2010 Academic All-Mid-American Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field Team as voted by the league's faculty athletic representatives.
"Vanessa and Thekla are both very deserving of this honor," said Ball State head coach Randy Heisler. "Their dedication to both academics and training makes them excellent role models for our younger student-athletes."
Gilbert, a senior landscape architecture major with a 3.55 grade-point average, is a first-time Academic All-MAC selection. At the 2010 MAC Indoor Championships, Gilbert placed fifth in the 5000m run (17:31.99) and sixth in the 3000m run (10:09.44) to earn seven of BSU's 25 total points in the meet. Her 5000m run time was a career-fast effort, while her 3000m time was a season-best effort.
In addition, Gilbert was BSU's top distance runner during the season, leading the team in the mile (5:00.69 at BSU Quadrangular), 3000m run and 5000m run.
Lorenz, a junior psychology major with a 3.77 GPA, is a first-time Academic All-MAC selection. She placed third in the pentathlon at the 2010 MAC Indoor Championships with an NCAA provisional qualifying score of 3,771. Among the 20 pentathlon participants, Lorenz placed third in the long jump (5.82m/795 pts), fourth in the shot put (11.77m/646 pts), fifth in the 60m hurdles (9.08/893 pts), 6th in the 800m run (2:29.34/701 pts) and 10th in the high jump (1.60m/736 pts).
In addition, Lorenz posted the Cardinals' top long jump (6.01m) and high jump (1.65m) efforts on the year, with both career-high marks coming at the Ball State Quadrangular.
To be nominated for Academic All-MAC, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the ward. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season only are considered. A total of 28 athletes were named to the women's squad representing 10 league schools.
