Aug. 6, 2008

OXFORD, Ohio - Miami University's track and field team has been named a 2008 All-Academic Team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

To be nominated, a team must carry a minimum of a 3.00 team cumulative grade point average. The RedHawks ended the academic year with a 3.240 team grade point average.

In addition to the team honors, two RedHawks, Kristina Bolterstein and Margarita Pogorelov, were honored as members of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.

Bolterstein (Middleburg Heights, Ohio/Midpark) earned the nod after finishing the 2008 season with NCAA All-American honors in the high jump and earning her fourth Mid-American Conference high jump title. She is the school record-holder in the high jump with a career best of 6-1 ½. Bolterstein graduated in May with degrees in environmental science and zoology and a cumulative grade point average of 3.67.

Pogorelov (Bat Yam, Israel), a sophomore, earned a spot on the all-academic team after ending the year with a 3.67 cumulative grade point average while majoring in business economics. She was the Mid-American Conference champion in the indoor 60-meter dash with a time of 7.50. She took second in the indoor 200-meters at 24.75.

The RedHawks, as a team, finished third at both the MAC indoor championships and outdoor championships in 2007-08.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the 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 the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.