May 24, 2017 Article from GOBLUERAIDERS.COM
BLUE RAIDERS LAND FOUR ON C-USA ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
@MTAthletics
MURFREESBORO, Tenn - Agnes Abu, Janet Amponsah, Sampson Laari and Phillip Smith have been named to the
InTouch Credit Union Conference USA All-Academic team, the league office announced
Wednesday.
A two-time C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member and C-USA Commissioner's Academic
Medal recipient, Abu posted a 3.72 GPA in Community and Public Health. The Ghana native
garnered Second Team All-American honors during the indoor season and grabbed a pair
of Indoor titles at the C-USA Championships in the 800-meter run and 4x400-meter relay.
She followed that performance with a pair of Outdoor Championship crowns in the 800-meter
run and 4x400-meter relay.
Abu also rewrote the Middle Tennessee record book, as the senior set two school records
during the indoor season in the mile and 4x400-meter relay, and four school records
in the outdoor season in the 800-meter, 1500-meter, 4x400-meter relay and Sprint Medley
Relay. This is Abu's second appearance on the C-USA All-Academic team after being
named to the squad last season.
Amponsah enjoyed a successful season on the track and in the classroom in her first
year as a Blue Raider. The junior earned a 3.79 GPA in Community and Public Health
to garner C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll honors. Amponsah was also awarded C-USA
Commissioner's Academic Medal. The Ghana native claimed a pair of championships at
the C-USA Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, and ran
the first leg in the 4x400-meter dash for a first-place finish.
Amponsah also ran the first leg of the women's 4x400-meter relay that finished first
and set a meet record at the C-USA Indoor Championships. Amponsah set an outdoor school
record in the 100-meter dash (11.32) and in the 200-meter dash (22.90). Wednesday's
honor marks the first time Amponsah has been named to the All-Academic team.
Laari finished the semester with a 3.67 GPA in Leisure, Sport and Tourism Studies
to earn Commissioner's Honor Roll honors. On the track, Laari was named a First Team
All-American after finishing third in the men's mile run at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
The senior also finished second at C-USA Championships in the mile, third in the 800-meter
run and third in the 3000-meter run to total 20 points and help MT to its first C-USA
Indoor title.
Laari set a school record in the mile (3:58.75) and 3000-meter run (8:05.88) in the
indoor season and has posted four Top 5 finishes in the outdoor season. This is Laari's
first All-Academic honor.
Smith capped his senior year with a 3.46 GPA in Finance to earn a spot on the C-USA
Commissioner's Honor Roll. The senior placed in the Top 10 in 12 events in which he
competed during the season.
Smith finished fourth in the triple jump at the C-USA Indoor Championships to help
MT to its first C-USA Indoor title, and placed fifth in the triple jump at the Outdoor
Championships. Wednesday's honor is also Smith's first appearance on the conference
All-Academic team.