Aug. 6, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Less than 24 hours after sophomore Frednisha Marshall was named to the USTFCCCA Women's All-Academic team, junior Keith Mahipala has received USTFCCCA Men's All-Academic team honors announced association officials Thursday morning.

Athletes must maintain a 3.25 cumulative grade point average, and be either an NCAA provisional qualifier during the indoor season, or a regional qualifier during the outdoor season.

Mahipala was one of the top distance runners in Southland Conference in 2008 scoring points in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters during the indoor season, and 5,000 meters during the outdoor season. He also earned all-conference honors in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with his third-place finish at the SLC Outdoor Championships.

Mahipala asserted himself as one the distance runners in the region when he posted a regional qualifying time in the steeplechase. Mahipala clocked a time of 9:06.11 to finish fourth in the event at the Texas Relays.

Thursday's announcement adds to a growing list of athletic, and academic accomplishments for the Plano, Texas, native. Mahipala was one of seven SFA athletes to be named to the 2008 Academic All-SLC team. Twenty-four hours after being honored by the conference, he was named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District team.

-SFA-