LIU Places Pair on USTFCCCA All-Academic Track Team; Blackbirds Garner Women's Team Award

7/9/07 -- Long Island University sophomores Shavar Clarke (Kingston, Jamaica) and Andre Marcano (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago) were named to the 2007 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I All-Academic Team. Clarke and Marcano were honored athletic and academic achievements during both the indoor and outdoor track seasons. In addition, the women's team was recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.

The duo made up half of the Blackbirds team that won the 4x100-meter relay at the 2007 Northeast Conference Outdoor Championships. At that same event, Marcano, a mathematics major with a 3.61 grade point average, placed second in the 100-meter dash. Clarke, a mathematics major with a 3.25 GPA, finished third in the 200-meter dash at the NEC Championships.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, one must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 and obtain an NCAA automatic or provisional qualifying mark for the most recent indoor championships or an outdoor regional qualifying mark in their respective event.

In order to earn the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, a school must have a collective team GPA of 3.000 or higher. The Blackbird women accumulated a GPA of 3.070.