Jun 2, 2006
LOWELL, MA – Senior John Drinkwater (Tewksbury, MA) and junior Nicole Plante (North Adams, MA) were each named to the ESPN The Magazine District 1 Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-America Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Wednesday.
Drinkwater, an All-American sprinter, was named to the District 1 men's first team while Plante, a four-time All-American distance runner, was named to the women's second team.
A political science major, Drinkwater has maintained a 3.46 cumulative grade point average while Plante has upheld a 3.38 average in nursing. The honors are especially significant since Plante competes year round while Drinkwater competes in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, beginning in early December.
With his first team billing, Drinkwater is eligible for a spot on the national Track and Field Academic All-America Team to be released in mid-June.
Drinkwater enjoyed a splendid indoor season in which he helped the UML 4X400 meter relay team to a sixth-place finish and All-American honors at the NCAA Championship (3:14.41).
In February, Drinkwater guided the 4X400 team to the New England Championship (3:13.56) – which includes Division I, II and III schools – as UML placed fourth in the team standings. Additionally, he earned All-New England honors in the 500 meters, placing sixth in 1:04.23.
Drinkwater is the son of Jack Drinkwater of North Reading, MA, and Janice Drinkwater of Tewksbury, MA.
UML's Drinkwater, Plante Named to ESPN The Magazine
District 1 Academic All-America Team
The honor is the latest in a spectacular season for Plante, who earned All-American honors last week at the NCAA Championship in both the 10,000 (third, 36:19.13) and 5,000 meters (fifth, 17:56.33). She was one of five River Hawk women to earn All-America honors and led UML to a best-ever showing of fifth place.
Over the course of the season, Plante shattered school records and qualified for the NCAA Championship in all four distance events: the 1,500 meters (4:45.59), 3,000 (10:06.74), 5,000 (16:38.07) and the 10,000 (34:35.75).
Plante was recently named the Northeast Region Athlete of the Year for the third time this season by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She highlighted the cross country season with a 26th place finish and All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Championship; and the indoor season, in which she placed ninth at the NCAAs in the 5,000 meters (16:52.00, a school record).
Plante was also recently cited to the Northeast-10 Conference Women's Track and Field All-Academic Team.
Plante is the daughter of Richard and Betsy Plante of North Adams, MA.
