Bastron, Arola, Theisen get Track/CC academic honor

June 04, 2009

Three St. Thomas track and field All-Americans were named to the CoSIDA College Division Academic All-District first team from track/cross country. The trio will advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

The honorees are among the top 10 from District 5. Eligible athletes from NCAA Division II and III and NAIA schools need a minimum a 3.30 grade-point average and be a sophomore or higher to be nominated.

The women's District 5 first team had seven seniors, and nine of the 10 honorees had gpas of 3.81 or higher. The men's first team included six seniors and four juniors, with nine of the 10 with gpas of 3.71 or better.

Phil Bastron

From men's track and field, three-time relay All-American Phil Bastron (SR-Pleasant Prairie, Wis.) was among the 10 honored in District 5. Bastron has a 3.93 gpa in Economics and International Business. Last month at nationals, he ran in the prelims on the 4x400 team that two days later won the Division III championships. He ran on St. Thomas' winning 4x400 relay team that broke the MIAC meet record, and also was an alternate for the Toms' NCAA champion 4x100 relay team.

Bastron also ran on the 2007 Tommie 4x100 relay that placed eighth and the 2009 NCAA indoor 4x400 team that took eighth. Bastron helped St. Thomas win seven of a possible eight conference team championships in his era, and he contributed to six MIAC relay titles and one runner-up placing.

The MIAC had three other first-team male honorees -- Bethel's Carl Gladitsch and Taylor Ferda, and St. John's jumper Eric Buss.

Nikki Arola

A two time All-American, Arola (JR-Chisholm) has a 3.97 gpa in Psychology. Arola qualified for outdoor nationals in the 200, 400, 4x100 and 4x400 in both 2008 and 2009. She was chosen MIAC Outdoor Meet MVP in both 2008 and 2009. In May, she scored 41 points to help the Tommies win the team title, as she ran in nine prelim or final races over two days. In April she ran the 400 leg on the distance-medley that placed first in Drake Relays -- the MIAC's first relay win at Drake in 77 years. She also helped that relay take second in NCAA indoor meets in 2008 and 2009. Arola has helped  St. Thomas win all six MIAC team titles (indoor-outdoor) thus far on her career. She has contributed to 18 conference individual or relay championships in the last five indoor/outdoor meets.

Katie Theisen

A 2007-08 CoSIDA Academic All-American, Theisen (SR-Elko/New Prague) was already named an NCAA Postgraduate Scholar and 2008-09 Goldwater Scholar. She also was chosen the conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year by College Sporting News. A five-time All-American, Theisen was the Division III runner-up in the steeplechase at last month national meet. Theisen scored 263 points in eight career conference track meets (indoors/outdoors), and helped the Tommies win 11 of a possible 12 conference team titles (CC-indoor-outdoor). Theisen anchored the distance-medley relay to Drake Relays victory in April, and NCAA indoor runner-up finishes in 2008 and 2009. In four career NCAA  cross country meets she placed 76th, 36th, 20th, 13th at nationals. She's served as President of the campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and has a long list of campus and community service experience.

The MIAC had two second-team women's honorees -- Gustavus' Lisa Brown and Carleton's Karen Campbell.