AUSTIN, Tex. – IUP cross country and track athlete Alex Hampel (Middletown, Del/Salesianum) has been named to the second team of the 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Track & Field/Cross Country squad, which was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and announced last Wednesday.
 
Hampel becomes the first men's track & field/cross country athlete at IUP to earn Capital One Academic All-America® honors. He's the sixth athlete in the history of the track & field and cross country programs to be named an academic All-America, the first since Jessica Pentz was named to the second team in 2003-04.
 
Hampel becomes IUP's second Capital One Academic All-America® selection this spring, joining women's tennis player Tanya Timko. It's the fourth straight year of at least one selection for the Crimson Hawks.
 
The senior biology major boasts a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average. It's his first career Capital One Academic honor. He's also a two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Champion Scholar – 2014 Cross Country, 2014 Outdoor Track & Field – and was IUP's 2014-15 Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year.
 
Hampel is one of five members of the 46-man 2014-15 Capital One Academic All-America® Division II Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Team who have a perfect 4.00 GPA.
 
The Academic All-America® student-athletes are chosen for their combined performances both athletically and in the classroom.
 
Hampel was a first team All-PSAC cross country selection in the fall by virtue of his 10th place finish at the conference championships in November. He then went on to earn all-region honors with a 21st place finish at the Atlantic Region Championships.
 
He also competed in the 10,000 meters at the PSAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships this spring, finishing in seventh place overall.
 
For up-to-date game information, visit www.IUPAthletics.com and follow IUP on Twitter @IUPCrimsonHawk.