Three Trojans Receive USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors
July 24, 2013 | Track & Field
July 24, 2013
USC track and field athletes Alexandra Collatz, Ashley Liverpool and Tyler Ruiz received United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors it was announced today.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 in a relay event on the official NCAA descending order list.
The discus All-American Collatz has a 3.51 GPA in Cognitive Science. She unleashed a personal-best throw of 181-11 (55.46m) to place fifth at the 2013 NCAA Championships and earn first team All-America honors as a sophomore. Collatz became the first Trojan female to score in the discus at the NCAA Championships since Allison Franke in 1992. Collatz also placed fourth at the Pac-12 Championships in the discus throw with a best mark of 179-7. She currently ranks second on USC's all-time list in the event.
As a junior, Liverpool earned All-America honors as part of USC's 4x400m relay team which placed 11th at the 2013 NCAA Championships. Liverpool also advanced to the NCAA Preliminary Rounds in the open 400m and posted a best time of 53.04. That time is tied for the 10th-fastest in school history. Liverpool maintains a 3.33 GPA in Psychology.
Ruiz graduated with a 3.29 GPA in Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services. Ruiz jumped 7-1.50 (2.17m) to place third at the 2013 Pac-12 Championships. He then advanced to the NCAA Preliminary Rounds where he tied for 17th with a clearance of 6-11.50 (2.12m). Ruiz also had a best long jump of 23-3.75w and triple jump of 47-9.75 during the 2013 season.
New USC Director of Track & Field Caryl Smith Gilbert's former team UCF earned the 2013 USTFCCCA Women's Scholar Team of the Year honors with a 3.166 team GPA. UCF took fifth place at the 2013 NCAA Championships scoring 35 team points.
Players Mentioned
