NEW ORLEANS – Four members of the MSU Denver women's track & field program have been named All-Academic Athletes by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Distance runners Taylor Engram and Mia Salas, hurdler Maya Ries and thrower Grace Solarin were all recognized by the USTFCCCA.

In order to be an NCAA Division II All-Academic Athlete, competitors must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.25, must have completed at least 24 semester hours through the end of the semester of competition at the institution, and must have achieved a provisional qualifying mark (individual or relay event) for either the indoor season or outdoor season.

Engram, a graduate transfer, had a provisional qualifying time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, where her best effort was a 10-minute, 51.12-second clocking (converted for altitude). She also posted a 3.71 GPA while pursuing post-graduate certificates in engineering.

Salas, another graduate transfer, had a provisional in the indoor mile with a season best of 4:51.87 (converted for altitude and track size). She has a 4.0 GPA while pursuing a master's of science in nutrition.

Ries had provisional qualifying times in the indoor 60-meter hurdles of 8.71 seconds and the outdoor 100 hurdles (converted for altitude) of 14.03. She has a 3.35 GPA while majoring in art.
And Solarin had a provisional mark outdoors in the discus of 45.34 meters (148 feet, 9 inches). She has a 3.76 GPA while pursuing a double major in psychology and human development/family studies.