The NDSU men’s track and field team and seven of its student-athletes were honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as All-Academic performers, the organization announced July 28.

As a team, the Bison men posted a cumulative grade-point average of 3.28 to qualify for the association’s All-Academic Team Award for the ninth consecutive season. A minimum team cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required for the award.

Quinn Baumann, javelin; Jerome Begin, 110m hurdles; Brandt Berghuis, shot put; Matti Mortimore, javelin; Alex Renner, shot put; Austin Schmidt, javelin; and Steffan Stroh, hammer throw, were recognized as All-Academic individuals. Berghuis earned the honor for the fourth consecutive season.

Mortimore, an All-American in the javelin for the second consecutive season in 2016, led a group of three Bison javelin throwers who claimed USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades. Six of the seven NDSU honorees were throwers.

To qualify for the All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met either of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have 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 performance list; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships, including preliminary rounds.

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