Monday, August 8, 2011

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Two members of the Westminster College men's track and field team earned recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Junior Ryan Bell (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) and sophomore Mark Saylor (West Middlesex, Pa./West Middlesex ) were named to the 2011 USTFCCCA Division III Track & Field All-Academic Team.

Bell and Saylor were two of 200 men's athletes who received this honor. To qualify, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark in an individual or relay event at some point in either indoor or outdoor seasons.

Bell became the team's first-ever NCAA All-American when he placed fourth at nationals on May 28 in the javelin with a throw of 62.8 meters. Saylor's personal-best pole vault of 4.85 meters set May 14 at Allegheny was a provisional qualifying standard but he missed the cut for nationals.

Bell is a business administration major with a 3.67 grade-point average and Saylor is an English major with a 3.72 GPA.

About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster is a top tier liberal arts college, a national leader in graduation rate performance, and a "Great School, Great Price," according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster ranked 38th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly College Guide, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 376 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.

Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 42 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020.