Detroit Men's Track and Field Ranked First in Country with Highest GPA

August 17, 2004

DETROIT - It was announced today by the United States Track Coaches Association (USTCA) that the University of Detroit Mercy men's team had the highest team grade point average (GPA) in the country. The Titans posted a GPA of 3.324 for the 2003-04 school year. The Titan women were ranked 27th with a team GPA of 3.179.

"This is a true testament to the commitment of our student-athletes in both programs," said head coach Guy Murray. "To produce team GPAs that high with all the time commitments they have is a real accomplishment."

On the women's side, junior thrower Andrea Karpala (Tecumseh, ON/St. Anne's HS) was selected to the USTCA All-Academic Team for the second year in a row. Karpala, the 2004 Horizon League Champion in the weight throw, shot put and the hammer, is the third Titan to be selected to the women's list, joining Kim Jess (1995) and Kim Hemstreet (2002). She is the first Titan to be honored twice.