UDC Track Athlete Latoya Allen Earns USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors

Washington, DC:  Latoya Allen, a senior sprinter at the University of the District of Columbia, has been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association 2011 Division II All-Academic Track & Field team.  Allen, a Social Work major at the University, is a District of Columbia native and 2008 graduate of Dunbar High School.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 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.

 Allen, a USTFCCCA All-American, is a member of UDC Firebirds 4x400M relay team, which was a Provisional Qualifier for the 2011 Outdoor NCAA Championships. The team ended the year ranked 18th nationally in the 4x400M. The outdoor performance time of 3:48.41 also ranked the team 6th in the Atlantic Region.

Latoya became an All-American in 2009 as a part of UDC's 4x400M relay team during the indoor season. She has consistently performed well on the track and in the classroom, and has a cumulative 3.682 grade point average.

UDC Head Women's Track & Field Coach Alton McKenzie said about Allen, "The goal is to always be competitive on and off the track, but having an Academic All-American means so much more to me. We place a premium on ensuring our student-athletes remember they are students first. Having a Division II All-Academic Honoree reflects that message is being heard. Latoya has shown that she can compete on the track (two-time All-American) and in the classroom. Her consistency is an example for her teammates to follow and I look forward to her sharing those qualities through her leadership."

Ms. Allen was very happy when she learned of the award and said, "I am really proud of myself because as an athlete it is important that you be able to compete academically as well as athletically. I hope that I have influenced my teammates and other athletes to follow my example."