May 14, 2003

DALLAS, Texas - Eleven Baylor track and field athletes earned first-team academic All-Big 12 honors joining the 290 overall athletes who garnered either first or second team accolades, the conference office announced on Tuesday.

To be eligible for first-team academic all-league recognition student-athletes must maintain a 3.2 or better grade point average and must have participated in 60 percent of the team's scheduled meets.

Six women earned first-team conference academic honors. Seniors Stephanie Bennett and Leah Marbach were named to the list for the third-straight year while juniors Megan McCoin and Jordan Willmann garnered the honor a second-consecutive time. Receiving the honor for the first time were sophomores Jasmine Opusunju and Lindsey Ramey.

All five of the men's honorees are earning the award for the first time. They include graduate student Seth Billy, seniors Jordan Lewis and Mark Henkes and juniors Matt Chance and Kyle King.

The Bears will return to action Saturday-Monday at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Austin, Texas.

First Team (3.20-plus grade point average)
Name	          Class	        Major
Stephanie Bennett  Sr.		Biology
Leah Marbach	   Sr.		Child and Family Studies
Jordan Willmann	   Jr.		Speech Communication
Megan McCoin	   Jr.		Biology
Jasmine Opusunju   So.		Undecided
Lindsey Ramey	   So.	        Pre-Business
Jordan Lewis	   Sr. 		Mathematics
Seth Billy	   Sr.          Information Systems
Mark Henkes	   Sr. 		History
Matt Chance	   Jr. 		Accounting
Kyle King	   Jr. 	        Mathematics