RIPON, Wisconsin – The Ripon College women's track and field program received national recognition on Thursday as the Red Hawks were named an All-Academic team by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative academic year GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period.
 
This is the sixth consecutive yearly honor for Ripon women's track and field. The team's cumulative GPA for the 2022-23 academic year was 3.55.
 
In addition, Olivia Miller (Tripoli, Iowa/Tripoli Community HS) and Kalyn Otzelberger (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West HS) were named All-Academic athletes for being ranked in the top 50 nationally and for having at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.
 
Miller, a 4.0 student majoring in Exercise Science - Sports Management, recently wrapped up an impressive rookie season where she qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in the long jump. Also on the indoor side, she was a Midwest Conference champion in the 200-meter dash and the long jump. She was part of the conference championship-winning 4x400-meter relay while taking second in the 60-meter hurdles. Earlier in the season, she set a new school record in the 60 hurdles (8.98 seconds) and the long jump (18 feet, 8 inches). At the 2023 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the freshman took second in both the long jump and the 100-meter hurdles.
 
Otzelberger, a 4.0 student majoring in Psychobiology, took second in the shot put at the MWC Indoor Championships and fourth in the same event at the MWC Outdoor Championships. Also at the 2023 MWC Outdoor Championships, the junior took third in the hammer throw and fourth in the discus throw.
 
The program won both the 2023 Midwest Conference Indoor and Outdoor Championships, successfully defending its 2022 indoor title.