June 5, 2009
CoSIDA Men's Release
CoSIDA Women's Release
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.: June 5, 2009 - Thanks to their outstanding accomplishments on the athletic field, and the classroom, seniors Jay Pagana (Selinsgrove, Pa.) and Emma Schmelzer (Bloomington, Ill.), and junior Bridget Franek (Hiram, Ohio) have been named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District Track and Field/Cross Country Team, announced to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
Pagana recently wrapped us his collegiate career at the NCAA East Regional Championships, where he competed in the triple jump. This spring, Pagana made medal stand at the Big Ten Championships, claiming bronze-medal honors in his signature event with a season-best 50-1.25 (15.27). In the classroom, Pagana just completed his undergraduate degree as a Pre-Med major.
Schmelzer had a tremendous campaign this spring, earning Co-Big Ten Field Athlete of the Meet honors at the Big Ten Championships, thanks to silver-medal finishes in the hammer throw and discus, and a fourth-place finish in the shot put. Schmelzer's 21-point haul help lead the Lions to their second-straight Big Ten outdoor crown. The senior was also an NCAA regional qualifier in the shot put, discus, and hammer. During the indoor season, she earned runner-up honors in the weight throw at the Big Ten Championships. Schmelzer was named to the All-District II second team after graduating in May with a degree in anthropology.
Franek, who has set a trio of Penn State records in 2009, will continue her season at the NCAA Outdoor Championships next weekend, after her second-straight NCAA East Region title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Franek's personal-best 9:43.57 in the event is not only a Penn State record, but the third-fastest effort by a collegiate this spring, and good for runner-up honors at the Big Ten Championships. Indoors, the junior earned All-America honors in the 5,000-meters - the fifth All-America certificate of her career. Franek recently completed her junior year in the classroom, majoring in Kinesiology.
To be nominated, athletes must have a 3.30 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or influential member of his or her sports team.