Hurta and Penner Named To CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team
BOULDER – The University of Colorado track and field program had a pair individuals named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Seven First Team, the association announced Thursday afternoon.
The two Buffaloes selected are Sage Hurta and Caleb Penner. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program is the longest-running and most prestigious academic and athletic award for student-athletes. All nominees must have a GPA of 3.30 or above and be a starter or important reserve in their respected sport.
Hurta, a two-time Academic All-American, is a senior with a 3.983 GPA in chemical and biological engineering. She was named the Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal Winner for the CU women and was the 2021 NCAA mile national champion. She is just the second Buff to leave CU with a national title as an individual, relay member and team. In her five years, Hurta only missed earning an A in a class once.
Hurta is looking to become the seventh CU Buff to earn three Academic All-America honors that includes Jenny Barringer and Ben Saarel from the CU track and cross country program.
This is Penner's first time on the All-District team after graduating with a undergraduate degree in Applied Mathematics and pursuing his Master's in the same. Penner received all A's in his classes, recording just three A- grades in his undergrad to graduate with a 3.985 GPA. He has led the CU men's athletics in GPA for three years in his undergrad and has a 4.0 in his Master's. Penner also was named the Pac-12 Tom Hansen Medal Winner for the CU men.
Both will automatically be eligible to become an Academic All-American. The District 7 is composed of 12 women and 13 men from Division I schools in Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas.
The 2021 Academic All-District Women's Track & Field / Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top
student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes track & field/cross country honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. Honorees selected first-team Academic All-District will advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-America honorees will be announced from August 9-12.