Aug. 15, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its list of 2011 Academic All-American honorees and five Samford Bulldogs are among those named: Blaise Carie, Thomas Oliver, Owen Wagoner and Patrick Wells from the men's team and Hillary Neal from the women's team. A total of 420 men and 663 women earned the distinction at the Division-I level.

Carie, a senior from Mt. Zion, Ill., holds the school record in the steeplechase and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals in the event. Oliver, a junior Birmingham, Ala. native, earned the gold medal at the 2011 SoCon Championships in the javelin en route to the NCAA Regionals. Wagoner, from Fort Wayne, Ind., came out strong in his freshman season, qualifying to the NCAA Regionals in the pole vault along with senior teammate Wells, from Hoover, Ala., who is a three-time conference champion in the event. Neal, from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., has won conference titles in the 800 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase and is a three-time regional qualifier in the 800, 1,500 meters, and 3,000-meter steeplechase.