Track & Field Places Three on MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete List

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced its list of Distinguished Scholar Athletes from its eight winter sports Thursday afternoon. In its sixth year of existence, the award honors the 'best of the best' student-athletes who have excelled in athletics and academics.

Three Ball State students made the cut, all from the sport of indoor track & field.

Senior distance runner Maritza Rodriguez earns the honor for the first time in her career after placing second in both the 3000m (9:51.18) and the 5000m (16:53.30) at the MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 28-29). Her 5000m time was the fifth-best individual time in program history.

Senior thrower Kelsey Walters earns the honor for the first time in her career after placing second in the shot put at the MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 28-29) with a program-record throw of 15.33m (50'-3.5").

Rounding out Ball State's honorees was first-time recipient sophomore Karlie Zumbro who placed second in the pentathlon at the MAC Indoor Championships (Feb. 28) with a score of 5,377 points. Not only was it the fourth-best individual effort in program history, but Zumbro also recorded career-best marks in four of the five events; 60m hurdles (9.07), high jump (1.61m), shot put (9.31m) and long jump (5.27m)

To be selected as a MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete, a student-athlete must be recognized as both and All-MAC and Academic All-MAC selection from their respective sport, along with maintaining at least a 3.50 GPA.

Previously, a voting process among the MAC Faculty Athletic Representatives determined the selection of the Distinguished Scholar Athletes. MAC membership voted for the change in recognizing the Distinguished Scholar Athletes during the conference spring meetings in June of 2019.

2019-20 MAC Women's Indoor Track & Field Distinguished Scholar Athletes:
Maritza Rodriguez, Ball State, Senior, 3.708 GPA, Elementary Education (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Kelsey Walters, Ball State, Senior, 3.734 GPA, Exercise Science (Troy, Ohio)
Karlie Zumbro, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.706 GPA, Pre-Exercise Science (Zanesville, Ohio)

Track & Field Places Three on MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete List

Players Mentioned

Maritza Rodriguez

Kelsey Walters

Karlie Zumbro

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