July 28, 2010

NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State track and field student-athletes Amanda Albrecht and Brittany Smith were named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2010 Division I All-Academic Track and Field Team Wednesday afternoon. The honor recognizes student-athletes' accomplishments athletically and academically.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships ¬¬in their respective events.

During the indoor season, Albrecht was a Missouri Valley Conference champion as a member of the Redbirds' distance medley relay team at the 2010 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Albrecht, a special education major, qualified for the 2010 NCAA West Regional in the high jump, where she recorded a career-best leap of 5'08.50" to finish in a tie for 14th place. The junior earned All-MVC honors by placing second in the high jump at the MVC Conference Championships. Albrecht was also named a 2010 Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete.

Smith wrapped up a stellar freshman campaign, as she represented the USA at the 13th IAAF World Junior Championships in the shot put event. The Oak Park, Ill., native recorded a toss of 50'09.25" to finish seventh in the event. Smith, who is majoring in mathematics, qualified for the World Junior Championships after she placed first in the shot put with a throw of 50'06.75" at the 2010 USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The freshman also competed at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the discus event and finished 19th with a throw of 150'09".

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