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Three Broncos make track and field academic team

May 24, 2006

KALAMAZOO--Three Western Michigan University student-athletes were among 27 named earlier this week by the Mid-American Conference to the women's outdoor track and field all-conference academic team.

Broncos honored for their accomplishments in both athletics and scholarship are junior Kendra Erskine of Grand Ledge, Mich., junior Kristalyn Mauch from Saginaw, Mich., and senior Christi Valanty of Allen Park, Mich.

Erskine has a 3.75 GPA in biomedical sciences. She finished sixth in the heptathlon at the MAC Outdoor Championships with 4,465 points and picked up the first podium finish for Western Michigan at the Penn Relays since 1987 when she finished second in the heptathlon with 4,835 points.

Mauch has a 3.90 GPA in biomedical sciences and is making her fourth straight appearance on MAC indoor or outdoor track and field academic teams. She set a new WMU record in the shot put at the 2006 MAC Outdoor Championships with a throw of 49'7" to place third in the event, and she advanced to the NCAA regional competition in Knoxville, Tenn.

Valanty has a 3.73 GPA in nursing and is making her third appearance on all-conference academic teams, having already been recognized in cross country and indoor track earlier in 2005-06. She helped the Broncos set new school records in the 4 x 800 meter relay and distance medley relay at the Penn Relays.

To qualify for an All-MAC academic team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade-point-average 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 award.

Media contact: Daniel Jankowski, (269) 387-4138, daniel.jankowski@wmich.edu

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