June 7, 2007

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Three members of the Villanova track and field team have been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II University Teams. Senior Drew Eckman, the lone male representing the Wildcats, received first team honors for the men. For the women, senior Monique Morgan also obtained first team recognition, while junior Frances Koons gained a spot on the second team. Most recently, all three student-athletes were 2006-07 Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area selections.

Eckman, the 2006-07 Villanova Senior Student-Athlete of the Year, just competed in the 800m event at the NCAA East Regional Championships at the University of Florida. The senior placed 15th in the highly competitive race with a time of 1:50.47. Although Eckman fell just short in regional competition, he is no stranger to receiving other accolades. His excellence in both academics and athletics has also garnered him the honor of being named the BIG EAST/Aéropostale Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. As a result of his brilliant academic performance, in which he holds a 3.618 grade point average in biology, Eckman was rewarded with a $4,000 scholarship to put towards his graduate studies.

Morgan, an All-American, has been a staple in Villanova's various successes this year. Most recently, the senior standout competed at the NCAA Championships at the State University of California in Sacramento where she blazed through the preliminary round of the 100m hurdles, but was halted in the semifinals. In addition to this week's remarkable showing, Morgan also clinched the BIG EAST Indoor Championship in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.21. The Kingston, Jamaica native also set a new ECAC record in the 60m hurdles posting an impressive 8.17. Furthermore, Morgan placed first in the 100m and 400m events at the Walt Disney World Invitational qualifying her for NCAA Regional competition. Her many accomplishments carry into the classroom as Morgan boasts a 3.587 in Spanish Language and Literature.

Koons, the BIG EAST Indoor Most Outstanding Track Performer, has compiled an impressive list of accolades this year. She was victorious in three events at the indoor conference championships with first place finishes in the mile, 1000m, and 4x800m relay. Koons was also named the Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. One of her greatest accomplishments this season came when Koons set a new meet record and personal best in the 3,000m at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational. Her academics read much of the same as the Allentown, Pa. native holds a 3.457 as a math major.