From University of Chicago Athletics
University of Chicago's Michelle Dobbs and Khia Kurtenbach were picked to the 2017 Academic All-America® Division III Track & Field/Cross Country Teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Wednesday.
Dobbs captured First Team Academic All-America status in her final year competing for the Maroons. The senior previously garnered Second Team Academic All-America selection in 2016. She was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District pick and also placed on the University Athletic Association (UAA) All-Academic Team three times in her career.
Dobbs was an eight-time All-American on the track, becoming one of the most decorated UChicago runners in school history. Her crowning achievement came at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships, where she won the national title in the 800 meters. Dobbs owns seven school records between the indoor and outdoor seasons, with three in individual events and four in relay events. At the conference level, she claimed 10 UAA titles.
A computer science major, Dobbs concluded her career by taking eighth place as part of the 4x400-meter relay at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Kurtenbach claimed a spot on the Academic All-America Third Team. The junior put together a banner year with three All-American awards. She started the fall season with a 10th-place finish at the 2016 cross country national meet. At the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships, Kurtenbach took sixth in the 3,000 meters and fifth in the 5,000 meters.
Kurtenbach was also the 2016 NCAA Midwest Regional champion and USTFCCCA Midwest Region Athlete of the Year. Over the past two years, she is a five-time All-American in track and a two-time All-American in cross country. The junior is a four-time UAA track and field champion as well.
With a double major in molecular engineering and biology, Kurtenbach was named to the UAA All-Academic Team in 2016 and 2017.
To be eligible for Academic All-American honors, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution.
UChicago tallied four Academic All-Americans over the course of the 2016-17 academic year.
UChicago Multiple Academic All-Americans
- Frank Baker (Football, 1992-93)
- Madelyn Detloff (Softball, 1986-87)
- Michelle Dobbs (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country, 2016-17)
- Gretchen Gates (Women's Basketball, 1985-86)
- Paul Haar (Football, 1987-88)
- Zach Rodgers (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country, 2007-08)