Five URI Track Student-Athletes Named to A-10 Academic All-Conference Team

2008 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team

Feb. 29, 2008

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Five members of the University of Rhode Island track & field program have been selected to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team. Seniors Michael Bernardo (South Attleboro, Mass.), Thomas Barek (Portsmouth, R.I.), and Stephen Mateka (Sewell, N.J.), along with junior Brian Alexander (North Kingston, R.I.), were named from the men's squad while sophomore Stephanie Gregory (Hope Valley, R.I.) was named from the women's team.

Bernardo is a marketing major who was named to the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field All-Conference team after he won the weight throw at the 2008 A-10 Championships (59-01.25). Barek, meanwhile was named to the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll this past fall and placed fourth in the 800m run (1:56.40) at the A-10 Indoor Championships. He is majoring in mechanical engineering.

Mateka is a psychology and pre-med major who placed 13th in the 400m dash (51.68) and was a member of fifth-place 4x400m relay team (3:22.84) at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships, and Alexander is a mechanical engineering major who was also named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll last fall. At the A-10 Championships, Alexander placed seventh in the 55m hurdles (7.86).

A member of the Freshman Honor Society, Gregory is a chemical engineering major who is a three-time Dean's List student and three-time Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. She placed second in the pole vault (11-03.75) at the 2008 A-10 Championships.

Rachel Papin (La Salle) and Ryan Jank (Charlotte) were named Atlantic 10 Female and Male Student Athletes of the Year, respectively, in a voting done by the Conference's sports information directors.