Four Track & Field athletes named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals list

NEW ORLEANS, La. – For the second consecutive day the Carson-Newman men's and women's track team made news with four athletes being named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches All-Academic Individuals list.

"To receive this Elite recognition as All-Academic, an athlete must maintain a high GPA and be a national qualifier." Carson-Newman Track & Field coach David Needs said, to do this requires and extraordinary commitment and personal sacrifice."

Tori Gaul (Salisbury, N.C.), Tiana Mills (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Tanner Stepp (Jefferson City, Tenn.) and Christian Stumpf (Johnson City, Tenn.) all make the USTFCCCA individuals list for a second consecutive year.

"These four have consistently exemplified this elite award by working hard in the class room, but are also committed to being one of the best in the nation," Needs replied. "I am proud that these four represent the hard work and special sacrifice it requires to be a Carson-Newman track athlete."

Gaul concluded her junior year with a perfect 4.0 GPA in Biology. The North Carolina native recorded a season-high 3.68 meter mark at the Mountaineer Open on April 28, where she took home fourth place honors. The junior also picked up her fourth career all region honor this season.

Mills capped off her senior season with a 3.90 GPA in Communications. The Chattanooga native and five-time all-region selection recorded a career-long jump of 5.81 meters at the South Atlantic Conference Championships. Mills also earned all-region honors for the women's triple jump with a season-best 11.71 meter mark at the SAC Championships.

Stepp concludes a decorative junior campaign with a national runner-up finish in the men's high jump. The junior cleared the bar at 2.13 meters, but missed all three attempts at 2.16 meters. Off the field this is Stepp's second academic honor of the summer. Last month the Jefferson City native was just the third men's track athlete to be named a CoSIDA All-American. Stepp is Accounting major with a 3.74 GPA.

Stumpf was named to the Southeast Region team this past season. The sophomore competed in a variety of events for the Eagles during the outdoor track season. Stumpf finished second at the SAC Championships in the javelin throw with a throw of 51.17 meters. The Johnson City native also competed in the high jump and finished with a season-best 2.00 meter jump at the Lenoir-Rhyne Power Sox Invitational on March 18. Stumpf is an exercise science major with a 3.33 GPA.

In order to qualify for this award an athlete must have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.25 and have reached provisional or automatic qualifying for the NCAA Championships in either the indoor or outdoor seasons. This season 471 women and 301 men earned the honor of USTFCCCA All-Academic individual.

To stay updated on all Carson-Newman track and field news, stay tuned to cneagles.com and on twitter @CN_Track for updates.     

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