Wieferich Named First-Team Academic All-District

The College of Wooster’s Katie Wieferich (Marietta, Ohio / Marietta), who recently capped her track season by earning double All-American honors at the NCAA Div. III Championships via top-eight finishes in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, was selected to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team for women’s cross country/track & field, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday.

The nominees for this distinguished award spanned NCAA Divs. II and III and NAIA institutions across the five-state district of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee, and by being one of 13 on the first team, Wieferich will be moved to the national ballot for Academic All-American® consideration.

“Katie is the prime example of what Div. III athletics is all about,” stated long-time Wooster head coach Dennis Rice. “She’s able to balance academics with athletics, knowing that academics is the No. 1 priority. She is a great athlete, but she doesn’t lose track of why she’s here at The College of Wooster. She’s among the top in both (academics and athletics), and is still balanced, which she needs to be successful.”

Wieferich, a junior who also recently received an All-Academic Intercollegiate Cross Country Team certificate for the second year in a row from the NCAA Div. III Cross Country Coaches Association, was one of the top distance runners in the nation during 2005-06. She was voted North Coast Athletic Conference Runner of the Year in cross country after winning the individual title at the league championships, cruising the 6K course in 22:30. Wieferich went on to place third overall out of 222 harriers at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional (20:59), however, she suffered an injury on a training run the day after that race and was hobbled at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19, where she finished 54th (23:18).

Wieferich did not compete again until the NCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships March 3-4, when she responded to her extended layoff by establishing a new conference record in winning the 5000 meters (17:38.13) and anchoring the first-place distance medley relay team (12:53.41) en route to NCAC Middle/Distance Runner-of-the-Year honors. She nabbed that award at the conference’s outdoor meet, too, as she won the 5000 again, setting another NCAC record (17:39.27), as well as the 10,000 (38:26.43). Then, Wieferich became Wooster’s first All-American in women’s track since 1994 by finishing third while running a sub-36-minute 10,000 at the NCAA’s (35:53.55), and after a day of recovery, adding a fifth-place effort in the 5000 (17:21.54).

Off the cross country course and track, Wieferich, who is majoring in chemistry, has made Dean’s List four semesters. She also serves as a tutor in the chemistry department.