June 21, 2011

=”” alt=”Facebook Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Gamecock Track & Field on Facebook | =”” alt=”Twitter Logo” border=”0″ class=”imported”>Follow @GamecockTrack on Twitter

By Miquel Jacobs
Media Relations Assistant

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina senior Michael Zajac and junior Marvin Reitze were both named to the Capital One Academic All-America Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced Tuesday. Zajac was a second team selection, and Reitze was a third team selection as the track and field duo both earned their first Academic All-America nods.

South Carolina has had an Academic All-America selection in five of the past seven years, including its current stretch of three consecutive seasons. The Gamecock track program has had five Academic All-Americans since the 2009 season.

Zajac (Lynchburg, Va.) earned second team honors after posting a 3.58 grade point average in accounting. He is a four-time All-American with three citations in the weight throw and two-time All-American in the hammer throw. He is a two-time SEC silver medalist and the 2011 SEC bronze medalist in the weight throw, making him the only Gamecock to medal in the weight throw three times in a career at the SEC meet. With 46 career points in SEC competition, Zajac holds the distinction as only one of two Gamecocks to score in the weight throw all four years that he has competed at the SEC Indoor Championships, and he is also one of two to score in the hammer throw all four years that he has competed at the SEC Outdoor Championships. In his career, Zajac has earned USTFCCCA All-Academic team honors in addition to SEC Academic Honor Roll mentions He is a 2011 SEC Brad Davis Community Service Award candidate and was named to the SEC Community Service team.

Reitze (Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany) earned third team honors with a 3.89 grade point average in management science. He is a two-time All-American in the pole vault and three-time SEC bronze medalist as a junior. He is currently second in the Gamecock record book with a top clearance of 17’8 ½ (5.40m) despite missing time due to injuries in the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He has qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in every year of his eligibility and was the 2009 NCAA East Region silver medalist. His academic honors include being a two-time USTFCCCA All-Academic team selection and SEC All-Academic Team selection.