July 14, 2008

New Orleans, La. - The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced its Division II Men's All-Academic Track and Field Team on July 14 and seven Grand Valley State University student-athletes earned spots on the team. Only one other institution had more student-athletes on the team. In order to qualify for the team, student-athletes must maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average while matching either automatic or provisional qualifying marks for the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Five seniors earned spots on the team, led by 15-time All-American Nate Peck. Joining him on the squad are Grant Fall, Garron Lucius, Bill Makela and Robbie Young. Sophomore Curtis Barclay and junior Chris Hammer also made the team. Peck was a three-time All-American in indoor and outdoor track this season. In the outdoor season, Peck finished third in the 5000-meter to earn the honor. During the indoor season, Peck took second in the 5000-meter and won a national championship as a member of the distance medley relay team. Hammer and Barclay were also All-Americans this season, finishing sixth and eighth, respectively, in the steeplechase.

Makela also competed in outdoor nationals in the 400-meter sprint, qualifying with a time of 52.42 seconds, which won him the GLIAC individual championship in the event. Grant Fall finished fourth in the 5000-meter run at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships and went to the Division II Indoor National Championships in the 5k. Lucius picked up a second-place finish at the GLIACs, recording a time of 14.74 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles and also qualified for the National Championships in the indoor 60-meter hurdles. Young took fifth in the GLIAC at the indoor championships with a time of 8:39.80 in the 3000-meter run.