14 Individuals, Both Liberty Teams Earn USTFCCCA Academic Awards
7/13/2022 2:20:33 PM | Track and Field
The 2021-22 Liberty men’s and women’s track & field squads were each honored as U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams. Meanwhile, 14 individual Flames and Lady Flames garnered USTFCCCA All-Academic recognition.
The Lady Flames posted a 3.45 team GPA, while the men’s squad recorded a 3.12 team GPA.
Liberty’s USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honorees were evenly divided between men (seven) and women (seven). The men’s award winners included Beau Backes, Diamantae Griffin, John Hicks, Felix Lawrence, Brandon Letts, Landon Miller and Gabriel Willis.
The Lady Flames’ seven members of the 2022 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team include Adelyn Ackley, Grace Artis, Isis Brooks, Calli Doan, Meredith Engle, Mackenzie Hainley and Taylen Langin.
Langin is the fifth Lady Flame ever to make a trio of USTFCCCA All-Academic squads, as she was previously recognized in 2019 and 2021. Langin joins Tanner Ealum, Jennifer Klugh, Noel Palmer and Cortney Strohman in exclusive company.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team individually, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have met at least one 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 in the national top 48 in a relay event. For the outdoor season, a student athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including the preliminary round).
Liberty’s 2022 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members
Beau Backes (Throws, Lindstrom, Minn.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.42
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Diamantae Griffin (Sprints, Jackson, Miss.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.34
Major: Sport Management (Graduate)
John Hicks (Throws, Romney, W.Va.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.77
Major: Exercise Science
Felix Lawrence (Hurdles, Portsmouth, Dominica)
Cumulative GPA: 3.25
Major: Aeronautics
Brandon Letts (Sprints, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada)
Cumulative GPA: 3.35
Major: Interdisciplinary Studies
Landon Miller (Distance, Milford, Ind.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.95
Major: Sport Management (Graduate)
Gabriel Willis (Jumps, Carrollton, Texas)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Exercise Science
Adelyn Ackley (Distance, Mears, Mich.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.59
Major: Zoo and Wildlife Biology
Grace Artis (Throws, Roswell, Ga.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.50
Major: Executive Leadership (Graduate)
Isis Brooks (Sprints, Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.63
Major: Human Performance (Graduate)
Calli Doan (Distance, Apex, N.C.)
Cumulative GPA: 3.99
Major: Exercise Science
Meredith Engle (Heptathlon, Dillsburg, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Computer Science
Mackenzie Hainley (Javelin, Denver, Pa.)
Cumulative GPA: 4.0
Major: Human Services Counseling (Graduate)
Taylen Langin (Pole Vault, Meridian, Idaho)
Cumulative GPA: 3.96
Major: Exercise Science