NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has named Emma Erickson, of The University of South Dakota, one of five recipients of the Women's 2008 Division II Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. In addition, 11 Coyotes have been named to the USTFCCCA Division II Women's All-Academic Track and Field Team.

Erickson (Gayville, S.D.) had an amazing Coyote debut as she became the first freshman, and only the second women's athlete, in school history to win two national titles in one year. Of the five female scholar athlete of the year recipients this year, Erickson is the only one to earn honors in indoor and outdoor.

"I'm really proud of Emma's accomplishments this past season," head coach Lucky Huber said. "She did an outstanding job of making the transition from a small town in South Dakota to a top NCAA Division II athlete. Emma had an amazing year, succeeding in athletics and in the classroom."

At the 2008 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championship, Erickson became the fifth women's indoor champion in school history. She won the 800-meter run with a clocking of 2:09.57 and earned three All-American honors at the championships as she also was a member of the distance medley relay which finished second and the 4x400-meter relay which placed fifth.

Erickson then went on to win the women's 800-meter championship at the 2008 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championship. She was timed at 2:07.36, which broke her own school record and she become the first Coyote women's athlete to win national titles in the indoor and outdoor 800-meters. Erickson is the 18th national champion in Coyote school history. She earned three more All-American honors at the outdoor championship, as she was also a member of the 4x100-meter relay (3rd) and the 4x400-meter relay (4th) that placed at nationals.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event. The following athletes were named to the all-academic team; Rosalie Brueske (Woonsocket, S.D.), Katie Cerling (Plymouth, Minn.), Danielle Dornbusch (Papillion, Neb.), Allison Duba (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Erickson, Jenessa Filler (Crooks, S.D.), Stephanie Gebhart (Elkton, S.D.), Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.), Jasmine Mosley (Bellevue, Neb.), Marissa O'Bryan (Kyle, S.D.) and Shaneka Parkes (St. Ann, Jamaica).