HAMMOND, La. – Eight members of the Southeastern Louisiana University track & field team were named to the Southland Conference All-Academic Team on Friday, highlighted by junior high jumper Slavko Stevic earning the men's outdoor Student-Athlete of the Year award to add to his indoor Student-Athlete of the Year honor from earlier this year.
 
The Lions joining Stevic, the Student-Athlete of the Year for both the indoor and outdoor track & field seasons this year, on the SLC's All-Academic Team are Terrell Webb, Eugene Omalla, Jaimie Omalla, Noah Kiprotich, Katrine Olsen, Indya Jackson, and Lara Zupanc.
 
Stevic held a 3.968 GPA in computer science this season while qualifying for both the NCAA Division I Indoor & Outdoor National Championships in the high jump, becoming an All-American in both. He won the SLC high jump championship and was first team All-Conference for both seasons while breaking the Southeastern school record in the discipline, jumping 2.21 meters (7'3") at the SLC Indoor Championships to take the SLU indoor record while his 2.22 meter (7'3.25") jump at the Strawberry Relays gave him the school outdoor record. This award makes Stevic a three-time SLC All-Academic selection. The Student-Athlete of the Year awards for both indoor and outdoor are the first of his career.
 
Webb becomes a two-time SLC All-Academic team member as he holds a 3.41 GPA in sports management. During the indoor season, he earned a bronze medal and a Third Team All-Conference honor in weight toss with a personal best throw of 18.36 meters (60'3") while during the outdoor season he won the SLC Championship and a First Team All-Conference honor with a toss of 63.93 meters (209'9"). His personal best in that discipline also came this season when he threw 64.09 meters (210'3") in the hammer throw at the Pelican Relays, which was good enough to qualify him for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals.
 
Eugene Omalla is a first time SLC All-Academic team member as he holds a 3.89 GPA in business administration. He won the Southland Championship and First Team All-Conference honors in both the 400-meter dash and 4x400-meter relay during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, qualifying in both disciplines for the NCAA Outdoor Regionals.
 
His twin brother, Jaimie Omalla joins in as a first time SLC All-Academic team member. Jaimie holds a 3.86 GPA, also in business administration. He joined Eugene as a conference champion on the 4x400-meter relay team, qualifying him for the NCAA East Regional. He set five personal bests this season, two in indoor competition and three during the outdoor season.
 
Kiprotich joins in as a first time SLC All-Academic team member as he holds a 3.10 GPA in nursing. He won the Southland Conference Championship and a First Team All-Conference honor in the 800-meter run while also competing in the 3,000-meter run and distance medley relay in the SLC Indoor Championships. In the SLC Outdoor Championships, he finished fifth in the 800-meter run and took part in the 5,000-meter run as well.
 
Jackson becomes a three-time Southland All-Academic team member for track and field as she holds a 3.24 GPA in psychology. She was rounding into form as the end of the season came as she set two personal bests at the Southland Outdoor Championships, doing so in the 400-meter dash and the 400-meter hurdles to finish fifth in both events.
 
Zupanc becomes a two-time member of the Southland Conference All-Academic team, currently holding a 3.98 GPA in psychology. The pole vaulter took home bronze and Third Team All-Conference honors in that discipline from both the SLC Indoor & Outdoor Championships, clearing 3.55 meters (11'7.75") at the indoor event while going over a season-best height of 3.70 meters (12'1.5") at the outdoor championships.
 
Olsen makes her first appearance on a Southland Conference All-Academic team, doing so with a 4.0 in kinesiology. She cleared 1.77 meters (5'9.75") in both the SLC Indoor & Outdoor Championships to claim silver and Second Team All-Conference honors at both events. The jump at the indoor championships broke the SLU school record in the discipline while the jump at outdoor meet secured her a spot in the NCAA East Regional. At the outdoor championship, she also claimed bronze and a Third Team All-Conference nod in the hammer throw with a toss of 49.95 meters (163'10"), securing her a somewhat unusual double in the process.
 
PODIUM CLUB/S CLUB   
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the track and field program are encouraged to join the Podium Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Podium Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern track and field program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Track and Field, follow @LionUpTrack on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube. channel.