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Kolacz and Chamberlain earn National Academic All-America honors
KEENE, N.H., 6/24/10 – Already recognized nationally for their athletic achievements as track and field All-Americans, Keene State College’s Bryan Kolacz and Allison Chamberlain also demonstrated they are among the best in the country academically by being named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
Both Kolacz and Chamberlain were third-team selections in the college division.
Kolacz, a junior from Brentwood, N.H., had a tremendous season throwing his weight around for the Owl track team. During the indoor season, he earned All-America with his sixth-place finish in the 35-lb. weight throw event at the NCAA Championships. Although Kolacz was unable to defend his national championship in the hammer at the NCAA Outdoor Championship, he placed third in a very strong field of competitors.
Kolacz, a physical education major, says being a student athlete is all about time management. “Competing in a sport helps me organize my day,” he said. “I have responsibilities as a student and as an athlete.” After earning his degree, he hopes to attend graduate school and is considering several majors, including strength training, exercise science, kinesiology, and physical therapy.
A junior from Scarborough, Maine, Chamberlain, had an equally impressive season competing in cross country and track for the Owls. “Academics are as important to me as athletics, so I’m thrilled to be honored with this recognition,” said Chamberlain, an architecture major.
The Little East cross country champion, Chamberlain raced to a second-place finish in the 800-meter race at the NCAA indoor meet. She qualified for the outdoor championships in the 800 and 1,500 races, but didn’t compete due to a leg injury.
Kolacz and Chamberlain become the second and third national Academic All-Americans for Keene State. Scott Jensen, a first-team pick, became KSC’s first national academic All-American in 2000.
