Liberal’s McPhail Honored for Academics After Record Finish

Fort Hays State javelin thrower Makayla McPhail has been honored as a CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District selection for women’s track and field/cross country for the 2011-12 academic year, released on Thursday (May 31). McPhail earns this distinction right after turning in an All-American performance at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she finished as national runner-up in the javelin with a school record throw of 160’9". Academic All-District honors are voted on by Division II sports information directors throughout CoSIDA District 6.

McPhail, native of Liberal, Kan., is a Health and Human Performance major at Fort Hays State and holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average after three years of collegiate competition at FHSU. Even though she was just a sophomore by eligibility this year in track and field, McPhail also played volleyball at FHSU in 2009 and 2010. This was her first year as just a track and field athlete and she broke the school record twice in the (new model) javelin this year. The other school record effort occurred when she won the MIAA Championship in the javelin.

McPhail is one of 13 athletes for women’s track and field/cross country in Region 6 of Division II to win this award. She is one of three individuals out of the 13 that continue to maintain a perfect 4.0 GPA. Ten of the 13 athletes on this list are from the MIAA.

FHSU