[June 7, 2007]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – Southern Arkansas student-athletes make up one-fourth of the 2007 ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District VI men’s and women’s track and field and cross country teams, placing five among the 20 honorees on the two teams, which were released Thursday.

The Muleriders placed two on the men’s 10-man team, represented by Morgan Collier and Joshua Mitchell. On the women’s 10-person team, Lady Muleriders receiving recognition were Lindsay Musielak, Gaby Mendoza-Bradford, and Ashley Weeks. All five student-athletes compete in both track and cross country as distance runners for SAU.

Collier, a junior from Mesquite, Texas, holds a 3.62 GPA in business administration-finance. A 2006 Gulf South Conference Fall All-Academic Team selection in cross country, he also is a three-time member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll, and a four-time member of the Southern Arkansas Dean’s List (minimum 3.50 GPA). Collier had three top-25 finishes in this year’s cross country season and helped lead the team to four top-five finishes in seven meets.

A junior out of Alia, Hawaii, Mitchell has a 3.65 GPA in exercise science. He is a three-time member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll and a two-time member of both the SAU President’s List (4.00 GPA) and Dean’s List. Mitchell had three top-30 finishes in six meets during the cross country season. In the spring, he ran career-bests in the 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing fifth at the Rhodes (Tenn.) College Open, and in the 3000 meter run, placing ninth at the Northwestern State (La.) Invitational.

Musielak, a senior from McKinney, Texas, boasts a 3.82 GPA in business administration-marketing and graduated Magna Cum Laude in May from Southern Arkansas. This is her third consecutive selection to the ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District VI team. Musielak has twice been named to the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association (USCCCA) All-Academic Team, is a two-time (2004-2005) pick on the GSC Fall All-Academic Team, and made the GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll all four years (2003-2006) during her career. She received SAU’s 2005-06 female Scholar-Athlete Award, and is a four-time member of the Southern Arkansas President’s List and three-time member of the Dean’s List. The former all-conference performer had three top-13 finishes this past cross country season and was the second-leading runner on the team, helping lead the squad to three wins and five top-five finishes in seven meets.

A senior out of Royse City, Texas, Mendoza-Bradford sports a 3.74 GPA in Spanish education and graduated Cum Laude in May. She also was a First Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI honoree last year. A two-time USCCCA All-Academic Team selection, Mendoza-Bradford was a 2005 GSC All-Academic Team pick, and made the conference Academic Honor Roll three times. She is a two-time member of the SAU President’s List and five-time member of the Dean’s List. The former All-South Region and All-GSC performer had four top-21 finishes this past cross country season.

Weeks, a senior from Bells, Texas, posted a 3.71 GPA in psychology with a minor in sociology and graduated Cum Laude in May. She is a four-time (2003-2006) member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll, two-time member of the Southern Arkansas President’s List, and six-time member of the Dean’s List. Weeks had two top-13 finishes this past cross country season.

By virtue of being named First Team on the Academic All-District Teams, all five student-athletes will advance for consideration on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Teams.