Denison University women's track and field standouts
Julie Hufnagel (Ann Arbor, Mich./Marian) and
Melanie Cluss (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands)
were named to the College Sports Information Directors of America
(CoSIDA) Academic All-America second-team as selected by the
members of CoSIDA.
Hufnagel, a biology major, placed 31st at the 2003 NCAA Division
III Cross Country Championship meet and led the Denison cross
country team to a All-Ohio Division III Championship and a North
Coast Athletic Conference championship this season. She was awarded
the prestigious NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and was inducted into
the Denison chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She was a part
of six conference championship squads during her career at Denison
and is a three-time first-team All-NCAC selection in cross
country.
Cluss is a 10-time All-NCAC team member in track and field for
both indoor and outdoor. She is the holder of four indoor school
records (55 meter hurdles, long jump, triple jump and 4x400 meter
relay) and two Denison outdoor records (55 meter hurdles and 100
meter hurdles). Cluss has also been named to the NCAC All-Decade
Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Team and was inducted into the
Denison chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
Both Cluss and Hufnagel were awarded a Presidental Medal at the
annual Denison Senior Awards Convocation. Only six Presidential
Medals were awarded among the entire class of 2004 and regarded as
the highest honor a student can receive at Denison University.
Created in 1952 by the College Sports Information Directors
of America (CoSIDA), the Academic All-America Teams Program is the
premier, nationwide college scholar-athlete awards program. It
recognizes 816 outstanding student-athletes annually in Division I,
II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
