Nebraska Wesleyan University had three track & field athletes named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Track & Field/Cross Country teams that were announced on Thursday (June 4).  Senior Derek Carson was on the District VII First-Team in the college division.  Senior Matt Glasnapp and junior Jackie Spelts were both voted to the Second-Team.

Carson now advances to the ballot for ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America track & field/cross country team.  The men’s team will be announced June 18.

Carson (Lincoln, Neb.) has a 3.89 GPA with a history major.  He earned three NCAA III All-American awards at the 2009 outdoor championships in May.  He was part of the 4x100 team that was national runner-up.  For his career, he now has five All-American awards.  He was Second-Team Academic All-American in 2008.

Glasnapp (Beaver Lake, Neb.) has a 3.78 GPA with an accounting major.  He also earned three NCAA III All-American awards at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.  He placed fifth in the 200 meters, and was on the runner-up 4x100 and third place 4x400 relay teams.  He finished his career as a five-time All-American. 

Spelts (Burwell, Neb.) has a 3.80 GPA with a health & fitness studies major.  She was the lone NWU female on the Academic All-District team.  Spelts placed fifth at the NCAA III Cross Country Championships to earn All-America honors.  It was the highest individual finish ever for a NWU female runner.  She also was a national qualifier for the NCAA Indoor Track championships and was a two-time GPAC Champion at the Indoor Championships.

Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District honors: 1) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better, 2) must have at least two terms of attendance at the institution, 3) must be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility, 4) must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.

The All-District selection is determined by voting of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). District VII is comprised of NCAA Division II and Division III and NAIA institutions from the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.