Six Flashes Named to 2010 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Teams
6/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
KENT, Ohio -- The Kent State track & field program continues to add pages to what has been a storied 2009-10 academic year.
Six Golden Flashes have been named to the 2010 Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-Mid-American Conference teams, as announced by the conference office. Sophomore Diana Dumitrescu (Campulung, Romania/LNPA Campulung Muscel) and senior Jessica Lhotsky (Medina, Ohio/Medina Highland) garnered selection to the women's squad, while fifth-year senior Andrew Carnes (Canton, Ohio/Jackson), sophomore Brian Florek (Matawan, N.J./Old Bridge), junior Destin Heasley (Massillon, Ohio/Massillon Washington), and junior Matthew Pfleger (Garrettsville, Ohio/James A. Garfield) earned spots on the men's team. The KSU quartet tied Buffalo for the most selections on the men's side.
Dumitrescu, a journalism major with a 3.35 grade point average, earns Academic All-MAC for the second time this year after making the indoor squad in April. She added another chapter to her Kent State legacy by earning United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Outdoor All-America honors by taking sixth in the heptathlon at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Dumitrescu's 5,474 points allowed her to become the 15th Kent State women's track & field athlete (21st time overall) to garner such recognition. The Romanian is the first Golden Flash to earn All-America in the heptathlon. Dumitrescu was named the conference's Most Valuable Women's Performer at the MAC Outdoor Championships, taking the title in the heptathlon (5,289 points) and placing fourth in the high jump (5'-7", 1.70 meters), fifth in the long jump (18'-11.25", 5.77 meters) and sixth in the triple jump (39'-8", 12.09 meters).
Lhotsky, an exercise and health physiology major with a 3.64 GPA, has become a mainstay on the Academic All-MAC squad, garnering her fourth straight selection (2009 Indoor and Outdoor, 2010 Indoor and Outdoor). She qualified for the NCAA East Regional in the 800-meter run, where she took 18th in the finals with a time of 2:08.07 to close out her KSU career. Lhotsky claimed second in the 800 at the MAC Outdoor Championships with a 2:10.72 finish.
Dumitrescu and Lhotsky helped lead the Flashes to their first MAC outdoor title since 2005.
Carnes, an exercise health graduate student with a 4.00 GPA, receives his fourth academic honor of the year after being named Indoor Academic All-MAC, MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week (April 12-18) and College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) First Team Academic All-District IV. Carnes was one of two MAC runners to break the 30-minute mark in the 10,000-meter run with a time of 29:51.28 at the All-Ohio Championships. A time of 30:10.90 in the 10,000 nailed down second place for Carnes at the MAC Outdoor Championships. He qualified for the running of the 10K at the NCAA East Regional, claiming 19th place by clocking a 30:55.96.
Florek, a physical education major with a 3.41 GPA, makes his first appearance on the Academic All-MAC list after qualifying for the NCAA East Regional in the javelin throw for a second straight season. Florek earned MAC silver at the conference's outdoor championships with a toss of 220'-4" (67.16 meters).
Heasley, a biology-chemistry major with a 3.60 GPA, achieves Academic All-MAC for the third time in his career (2009 Indoor, 2010 Indoor and Outdoor). He qualified for the finals of the 800-meter run at the NCAA East Regional after clocking a 1:49.82 to place third in his heat. Â Heasley finished the season by taking 19th in the finals with a time of 1:49.64. He is the conference's reigning 800 champion after timing in at 1:49.05 at the MAC Outdoor Championships.
Pfleger, a language arts major with a 3.44 GPA, rounds out the list of KSU Academic All-MAC selections by garnering his third career appearance (2009 Indoor and Outdoor, 2010 Outdoor) on the team. Pfleger qualified for the NCAA East Regional following an outdoor campaign in which he took second in the hammer throw at the conference championships with a toss of 204'-7" (62.36 meters). He was named the MAC's Field Athlete of the Week (April 30-May 1) by taking seventh in the hammer at the Jesse Owens Track Classic with a 205'-2" (62.54 meters). The mark was the third best by a collegiate competitor in the event.
To be nominated for Academic All-MAC selection, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA 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. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments for the current season only are considered.
2010 Men's Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Team
Mike Uhle, Akron
Shaun Brummert, Buffalo
Casey Garbaty, Buffalo
Jake Madonia, Buffalo
Brian Smith, Buffalo
Marcus Breidinger, Central Michigan
Greg Pilling, Central Michigan
Xavier Clais, Eastern Michigan
Oliver Walther, Eastern Michigan
Andrew Meyer, Eastern Michigan
Andrew Carnes, Kent State
Brian Florek, Kent State
Destin Heasley, Kent State
Matthew Pfleger, Kent State
John Gausmann, Miami
2010 Women's Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Team
Larisa Arcip, Akron
Alina Bocicor, Akron
Carrie Kayes, Akron
Allison Lawyer, Akron
Valerie Wert, Akron
Lauren Whitehill, Akron
Thekla Lorenz, Ball State
Sarah Kehe, Ball State
Paige Lane, Bowling Green
Barbara Powers, Bowling Green
Tiffany Maskulinski, Buffalo
Jackie Burns, Buffalo
Raeanne Lohner, Central Michigan
Erika Schroll, Central Michigan
Lauren Quaintance, Eastern Michigan
Diana Dumitrescu, Kent State
Jessica Lhotsky, Kent State
Kelsey McHugh, Miami
Kelley Miller, Miami
Amanda Mirochna, Miami
Nicki Mitchell, Miami
Rachel Patterson, Miami
Cora Caulfield, Northern Illinois
Michelle Sutherland, Toledo
Dagna Sztykiel, Toledo
Ashley Hunault, Western Michigan
Irene Cooper, Western Michigan
