Craw, Donavin earn academic honors

Recent Cornell College graduates Madison Craw and Kirkwood Donavin have been recognized on the 2011 Division III All-Academic Track and Field Teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

Craw (Mason City/Mason City) earned USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades for the third consecutive season. Donavin (Salt Lake City, Utah/West) was honored after a record-setting final campaign. Both Ram standouts graduated in May.

To qualify for academic recognition, the student-athlete must have compiled at least a 3.30 GPA and have met the Division III Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event. Participation in an NCAA Championship also fulfills the athletic component of All-Academic qualification.

Craw was an NCAA Championships competitor in the shot put at both indoor and outdoor meets in 2011. She placed 13th in her specialty event at national indoors and finished 18th at outdoors. Craw capped her career as a three-time national qualifier, three-time all-Iowa Conference performer and school-record holder in the shot put with an outdoor mark of 45 feet, 7.75 inches.

Donavin gained All-America status last March with a third-place finish in the mile run at the national indoor championships. He set school and arena records with the fastest prelims time of 4 minutes, 11.02 at that meet in Columbus, Ohio. Donavin picked up five IIAC titles during a sensational senior season in which he was voted the IIAC Most Valuable Men's Track Performer at the conference indoor meet.

A total of 528 student-athletes (328 women, 200 men) in Division III were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic performers for track and field. The IIAC had 36 academic selections.