WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Seniors Kelly Cook Jr. and Curt Eckstein of the Purdue track & field team have been named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Cook Jr. and Eckstein are the 14th and 15th track & field and cross country student-athletes to be recognized on an Academic All-District Team since the award was established in 2001-02 and the fourth and fifth from the men's squad. The pair are the first to be honored since Micaela Hazlewood in 2018.
Purdue has two awardees in the same season for the first time since 2009, when Kara Patterson and Brian Kaluf were honored. The team also had two named to the Academic All-District team in 2008 and 2003, though this is the first time two men were honored in the same season.
A graduate student in his first season as a Boilermaker, Cook Jr. advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the hammer throw after a mark of 68.21 meters on May 25 at last week's NCAA East Prelims. Cook Jr. entered Purdue's top-10 list in the event in his opening meet, on March 19, and last week's throw moved him up to No. 2 all-time. He also is No. 7 in school history in the weight throw.
A native of Buena Vista, Virginia, Cook Jr. is pursuing his masters degree in finance. This is his second career Academic All-District distinction, after he was honored while an undergraduate at William & Mary. Cook Jr. also was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Eckstein won a silver medal at the Big Ten Championships in the 10,000 meters and placed in the top-seven in all four events he raced in at the indoor and outdoor conference championships in 2022. Eckstein competed at three NCAA events this season, the Great Lakes Regional and national championships in cross country in the fall and at last week's NCAA prelims in the 10,000m. This year, he broke the school record in the indoor 3,000m (7:57.69) and ran the second-fastest 10,000m (28:54.93) time in program history outdoors. In a career that included 12 NCAA appearances, Eckstein has five top-10 times, with four in the top-two.
A graduate student from Oldenburg, Indiana, Eckstein is majoring in mechanical engineering. In his career, he is a multiple-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big Ten honoree in both cross country and track & field.
There are 12 honorees on the NCAA Division I – District 5 First Team, including Cook Jr. and Eckstein. After being voted to the first team, they advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot.
Cook Jr. and 14 Purdue teammates now travel to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The Boilermakers will compete in nine events at Hayward Field from June 8-11.
Purdue Track & Field's CoSIDA Academic All-District Honorees
Kelly Cook Jr. – 2022, First Team
Curt Eckstein – 2022, First Team
Micaela Hazlewood – 2018, First Team
Matthew McClintock – 2015, First Team
Kara Patterson – 2009, First Team
Mallory Peck – 2009, Second Team
Kara Patterson – 2008, Second Team
Brian Kaluf – 2008, First Team
Lindsey Blaine – 2007, Second Team
Amber Ferner – 2006, First Team
Amber Ferner – 2005, First Team
Lindsay Zinn – 2004, First Team
Prentice Stovall - 2003, First Team
Simona Kovacic – 2003, Second Team
Ann Stechshulte - 2002, First Team
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Cook Jr. and Eckstein are the 14th and 15th track & field and cross country student-athletes to be recognized on an Academic All-District Team since the award was established in 2001-02 and the fourth and fifth from the men's squad. The pair are the first to be honored since Micaela Hazlewood in 2018.
Purdue has two awardees in the same season for the first time since 2009, when Kara Patterson and Brian Kaluf were honored. The team also had two named to the Academic All-District team in 2008 and 2003, though this is the first time two men were honored in the same season.
A graduate student in his first season as a Boilermaker, Cook Jr. advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the hammer throw after a mark of 68.21 meters on May 25 at last week's NCAA East Prelims. Cook Jr. entered Purdue's top-10 list in the event in his opening meet, on March 19, and last week's throw moved him up to No. 2 all-time. He also is No. 7 in school history in the weight throw.
A native of Buena Vista, Virginia, Cook Jr. is pursuing his masters degree in finance. This is his second career Academic All-District distinction, after he was honored while an undergraduate at William & Mary. Cook Jr. also was named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
Eckstein won a silver medal at the Big Ten Championships in the 10,000 meters and placed in the top-seven in all four events he raced in at the indoor and outdoor conference championships in 2022. Eckstein competed at three NCAA events this season, the Great Lakes Regional and national championships in cross country in the fall and at last week's NCAA prelims in the 10,000m. This year, he broke the school record in the indoor 3,000m (7:57.69) and ran the second-fastest 10,000m (28:54.93) time in program history outdoors. In a career that included 12 NCAA appearances, Eckstein has five top-10 times, with four in the top-two.
A graduate student from Oldenburg, Indiana, Eckstein is majoring in mechanical engineering. In his career, he is a multiple-time USTFCCCA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big Ten honoree in both cross country and track & field.
There are 12 honorees on the NCAA Division I – District 5 First Team, including Cook Jr. and Eckstein. After being voted to the first team, they advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot.
Cook Jr. and 14 Purdue teammates now travel to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The Boilermakers will compete in nine events at Hayward Field from June 8-11.
Purdue Track & Field's CoSIDA Academic All-District Honorees
Kelly Cook Jr. – 2022, First Team
Curt Eckstein – 2022, First Team
Micaela Hazlewood – 2018, First Team
Matthew McClintock – 2015, First Team
Kara Patterson – 2009, First Team
Mallory Peck – 2009, Second Team
Kara Patterson – 2008, Second Team
Brian Kaluf – 2008, First Team
Lindsey Blaine – 2007, Second Team
Amber Ferner – 2006, First Team
Amber Ferner – 2005, First Team
Lindsay Zinn – 2004, First Team
Prentice Stovall - 2003, First Team
Simona Kovacic – 2003, Second Team
Ann Stechshulte - 2002, First Team
For more on the Purdue track & field and cross country program, visit PurdueSports.com/TrackField and follow and connect with the Boilermakers on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.