Student-athletes named to academic teams

Four UIC student-athletes were voted onto the Horizon League Indoor Track & Field All-Academic teams: Allison Hansen, Zach Szczesniak, Alex Bashaqawi and Luke Taccola.

Hansen is a junior in biological sciences. An All-Horizon League cross country runner, she has carried that success over to the indoor track this season. She turned in career-best times in three events this winter: the mile, 3K and 5K.

Two male distance runners — Bashqawi and Szczesniak — were selected for the All-Academic Team, as well. Both Flames carry unblemished grade-point averages of 4.0 as engineering students at UIC. Bashqawi studies mechanical engineering, and Szczesniak’s focus is electrical engineering. Both were also named to the League’s All-Academic cross country teams.

Bashqawi has posted personal records in a few events this season, such as his 800-meter effort of 1:54.23 at the Mike Lints Alumni Open — the top time for any UIC runner at that distance this season.

Szczesniak recently won the mile at the Panther Tune-Up with a PR of 4:29.90.

Taccola, the lone thrower if the group, has been the top performer in the shot put for UIC all season. He registered a personal record in that event at the Meyo Invitational, reaching the event finals with a mark of 51 feet, 4.25 inches.

In order to be eligible for the Horizon League All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have completed one year at a member school and passed 24 semester hours at that institution before the start of their athletic season. They must also maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale. The winners are determined by a vote of the League’s Faculty Athletics Representatives.

The UIC track and field team will travel to Youngstown, Ohio, this week for the 2018 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. The competition is spread over two days, Feb. 24-25.