NEW ORLEANS, La. — The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the team and individual Academic Awards for the 2024 season. Both University of Wyoming men's and women's teams were named along with two Cowgirl student athletes and five Cowboy student athletes earning the honor. 

COWGIRLS 

Gabby Drube / Physiology

Sadie McMullen / Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Drube finished her season with a 38th place finish in the 400M Hurdles at the 2024 NCAA West Preliminary Round. Drube posted a 1:00.29 in the event as she was one of the top 48 runners in the West region this season. Drube ends her year with the No. 3 time in school history. 

McMullen went an 18-11.25 to wrap up her season in 43rd place from Fayetteville, Ark. 

COWBOYS 

Jefferson Danso / Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Ryker Holtzen / Agricultural Business

Kareem Mersal / Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Mason Norman / Construction Management

Daniel Reynolds / Master in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management

Ferguson found the podium in the 400M Hurdles at the 2024 Mountain West Championships. Ferguson ran a personal best 51.32 to take third place for the Brown & Gold and move up to No. 6 all-time on the Wyoming top-10 list in the process. He wrapped up his season running a 52.75 in the 400M Hurdles to end his season in 41st place amongst the best in the West. 

Holtzen took the win at the Mountain West Championships in the Steeplechase. The school record holder in the event, Holtzen wrapped up his season going 8:57.84 to take 22nd place from Fayetteville. 

Mersal took a redshirt season during the 2024 outdoor campaign. Mersal went 24-9.25 in the Long Jump to earn the MW Conference title. Mersal is the conference and school record holder in the event. Mersal qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship and took 11th place at the event to earn second-team All American status. 

Reynolds earned two podiums at the MW Championships. In his first season as a Cowboy, Reynolds took second in the Hammer Throw and earned a third place spot in the Shot Put. The school record holder in the event, Reynolds capped off his record-breaking season in the Hammer Throw with an 18th place finish at the NCAA West Prelims. 

Norman took 35th in the finals of the 10000M race. Norman ran a 30:18.19 to finish up his 2024 season amongst the best in the West. 

The Athletic Criteria 

Athletic criteria for the award can be met in either the indoor season, the outdoor season, or both:

• For the indoor season: must have finished the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event, or in the top 48 in any championship relay event, for the most recent indoor season, certifiable by their place on final season performance lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track and Field (including performances achieved outside the qualifying window during the indoor season).
• For the outdoor season: must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships (the Preliminary Championship Competition and/or the Final Championship Competition) or must have finished the season ranked in the top 48 in the East or top 48 in the West for the most recent outdoor season, certifiable by place on the NCAA Division I descending order list on TFRRS for Outdoor Track and Field.

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