Invitational helps women’s track practice for championships
CMU women’s track and field will make a stop at the Len Paddock Invitational in Ann Arbor before heading to the Mid-American Conference Championship May 15 through 17.
The team has hopes of being able to compete at high levels at conference championship.
According to cmuchippewas.com, women’s track and field coach Karen Lutzke said, “You always want good marks, but if you make that your focus, you get lost when trying to compete and our focus this year is to just compete and let everything else fall into place. The times will take care of themselves if you are competing at a high level.”
The team is entering the invitational and conference championship in good health with no major injuries.
For more information, visit www.cmuchippewas.com.
PHOTO: Amanda Rudert and the Chippewas head to the Toledo Invitational on Friday.
Miller named to watch list for Rimington Trophy
CMU freshman offensive lineman Colin Miller was named one of 42 players to a preseason watch list for the 2008 Rimington Trophy, according to cmuchippewas.com.
Miller began as a redshirt freshman in 2007 for the Chippewas and started in 14 games as a center. He has earned All-American honors from Sporting News and collegesportsfootballnews.com.
Miller was also part of the offensive line that paved the way for the only offensive team to rank fourth in the Mid-American Conference in scoring, rushing and passing in 2007.
He is one of two players to make the watch list from the MAC and the only player on the list from Michigan. The Rimington Trophy is presented yearly to the top center in college football. CMU took its second consecutive MAC title in 2007 by defeating Miami in the MAC championship game.
Athletes excel on and off the field, ranked top 20 percent in nation
CMU Athletics carries on the long tradition of success on and off the field. Fifteen of 16 varsity athletic programs have passed the benchmark score set by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, according to cmuchippewas.com.
The NCAA Academic Progress Report nationally ranked CMU in the top 20 percent. Information was taken from four academic years starting in fall 2003 and ending in spring 2007.
In order for teams to meet the APR performance benchmark, they have to receive a score of 925 out of 1,000.
Men’s cross-country and the women’s soccer team were CMU’s highest scoring programs. Men’s cross-country team received a score of 992, while the women’s soccer team received a score of 990.
“We take great pride in the academic success of our student-athletes,” CMU Athletics Director Dave Heeke said. “There is a tradition of academic excellence within our department, and our student-athletes understand the importance of continuing that tradition.”
