Nebraska Wesleyan University track & field athletes Evan Knight and Derek Carson were both named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Knight was named to the Academic All-America® First-Team in the college division, while Carson was selected to the Second-Team.

Knight (Sr., Keystone, Neb./Ogallala H.S.) graduated with a 3.99 GPA with a history & Spanish major. He becomes a three-time Academic All-American and was a two-time First-Team selection after earning Second-Team as a sophomore in 2006. He is the seventh NWU student-athlete to become a three-time Academic All-American and the second track athlete to earn the honor.

Knight was a six-time All-American, two-time GPAC Champion and seven-time GPAC runner-up. As a senior he was a NCAA III qualifier in the 800 meters at the outdoor championships and also ran on 4x400 meter relay that placed ninth.

Carson (Jr., Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Pius X H.S.) has a 3.86 GPA with a history major. This is his first Academic All-American honor and he becomes the ninth NWU male track & field athlete to earn Academic All-American honors.

Carson was part of the National Runner-up 4x400 meter relay team at the 2008 NCAA III Indoor Championships to earn his first All-American honor. That same relay team set the school record in the event this season. He was also part of the 4x400 relay team that placed ninth at the Outdoor Championships. Carson also earned four All-GPAC honors as a junior this season.

Adams State College led all college division schools with three winners, while NWU and Stevens Institute of Technology each had two winners.

Nebraska Wesleyan University now has had 65 student-athletes earn 103 Academic All-America® awards. NWU ranks 12th among all schools at all levels of competition for its number of Academic All-Americans.

Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn ESPN the Magazine Academic All- America® 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.