2015 USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals

NEW ORLEANS -- On Friday, Academy of Art University men's track & field artist-athlete Valentin Pepiot was named to the 2015 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team.

"Valentin is very deserving of this award," said interim head coach Torrey Olson. "He embodies the belief that maintaining a high expectation of achievement serves best when applied equally to all undertakings rather than just to sport or your favorite class. I'm very proud of him."

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track & Field Team, a student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have reached a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either indoor or outdoor seasons.

While working towards a 3.81 GPA in Music Production & Sound Design for Visual Media this past fall and spring, Pepiot achieved some of the country's top marks in multiple events across indoor and outdoor. Each day of the 2015 Husky Classic (Feb. 13-14), Pepiot put his name in the Academy of Art record books, contributing to the Urban Knights' 9:56.38 in the distance medley relay (19th in NCAA Division II at year's end) and following with an 8:11.64 in the 3000m, a mark that finished seventh in the country. The outdoor season saw the Besançon, France native once again deliver top times in a short span - these within mere hours. At the USF West Coast Last Chance Meet (May 9), Pepiot set another ART U record in with a 3:48.20 in the 1500m (19th in NCAA DII) then turn around and post a top 40 time in the 5000m (14:31.95).

The track season was a continuation of Pepiot's success as a cross country runner where he earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors after becoming the second male ART U runner to reach NCAA Nationals in addition to being named Pacific West Conference Newcomer of the Year and PacWest Runner of the Week on three occasions. He finished 15th at Regionals and was the highest finisher from the PacWest at Nationals. During the regular season, Pepiot won two events and was the top-DII finisher at the Stanford Invitational and Bronco Invitational. He also earned USTFCCCA Division II National Athlete of the Week on Sept. 29.

Pepiot was one of 239 men representing 76 institutions who earned this distinguished USTFCCCA All-Academic honor for his combined academic and athletic accomplishments.