2011 Capital One Academic All-America®
Villanova's Matt Gibney was named today a 2011 member of the Capital One Academic All-American team in track and field. The Villanova senior is majoring in English and carries a 3.78 GPA. Gibney was also in 2011 a 1500 meter All-American on the track, for the second time.
For a complete list of the track and field Academic All-Americans, click the title to this post.
Here is the Villanova Athletic Department's official press release:
VILLANOVA, Pa.--For the first time since 2007 the Villanova men's track & field/cross country program has an academic All-American, as senior Matthew Gibney (Albury, Australia) was named today to the Capital One Academic All-America third team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). This is a top academic honor for Gibney, who is coming off an All-American performance in the 1500 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships two weeks ago.
The Capital One Academic All-America program recognizes student-athletes for having at least a 3.3 grade-point average while also having outstanding accomplishments in competition. Gibney finished his 2010-11 campaign with a terrific outdoor season while also maintaining a cumulative 3.78 GPA as an English major.
Gibney was previously named a first team Academic All-District 2 selection in order to be eligible for the All-America ballot. He also was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area track squad and is a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star.
At the NCAA Championships earlier this month Gibney finished in fourth place in the finals of the 1500 meters to earn All-America honors for the second time in the last three years. Most impressively, however, he led Villanova to a Championship of America title in the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays in late April. Gibney anchored the Wildcats to their 94th championship all-time at the Penn Relays and the 24th in the DMR. He was also the anchor of the team's champion DMR squad in 2009. At the outdoor BIG EAST Championships Gibney received All-BIG EAST recognition in the 800 meters.
In addition to his outdoor season Gibney advanced to the national championships indoors in the Mile after running his first career sub-four minute Mile during the season at the Flotrack Husky Classic (3:58.12). He was also the BIG EAST runner-up in the Mile and led Villanova to a second place finish in the 4x800 meter relay at the conference meet.
During cross country season, Gibney overcame an injury during the early part of the year to return to the Wildcats lineup for the postseason meets. He made his season debut by winning the Haverford Invitational in late October and then was a part of team's top seven runners at all three postseason meets in the BIG EAST Championships, NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional and NCAA Championships.
The last Villanova men's track runner to earn Academic All-America honors is Drew Eckman, who was a third team selection in 2007. Gibney is now one of six Wildcats from the men's track team to receive this award, joining Terrence Mahon (1993, third team); Sean O'Neill (1987, first team; 1986, second team; 1985, third team); Carlton Young (1983, first team); and Michael England (1983, first team).
Villanova Men's Track Academic All-America Selections
Matt Gibney - 2011 third team
Drew Eckman - 2007 third team
Terrence Mahon - 1993 third team
Sean O'Neill - 1987 first team, 1986 second team, 1985 third team
Carlton Young - 1983 first team
Michael England - 1983 first team
Capital One Academic All-America Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
FIRST TEAM
Philip Adam, Rice
Bjorn Barrefors, Nebraska
Miles Batty, BYU
Peter Bolgert, Marquette
Tim Burns, Loyola (Md.)
Nathan Corder, Alabama
Chris Derrick, Stanford
Ryan Foster, Penn State
Elliott Heath, Stanford
David Klech, Oregon
Darius Law, Charlotte
Christopher Lemon, Dayton
Lee Ellis Moore, Mississippi
Scott Roth, Washington
Miles Unterreiner, Stanford
SECOND TEAM
Eric Bailey, Oklahoma
Will Barry, Texas A&M
Hillary Bor, Iowa State
Matt Carey, Rice
Alex Federinko, Duquesne
Nicolas Gordon, Nebraska
Kevin Johnson, Massachusetts
Barnabas Kirui, Mississippi
Scott Krapf, Illinois State
Matthew Lemon, Dayton
Nate Polacek, Nebraska
Cody Rome, Navy
Jamie Sandys, Arizona State
Jareb Stallbaumer, Kansas
Michael Zajac, South Carolina
THIRD TEAM
Andy Bayer, Indiana
Ed Bonnevie, Delaware
Adam Dailey, Nebraska
Dominic Devaud, UMBC
Ben Engelhardt, Arizona State
Matthew Gibney, Villanova
Tyler Hitchler, Nebraska
Daniel Howell, Utah State
Ben Jasinski, South Dakota State
Elliot Krause, Wisconsin
David Moore, Chattanooga
Ciaran O'Lionaird, Florida State
Marvin Reitze, South Carolina
Dan Sloat, Rice
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