Ballas, Bevan Honored for Academics-Athletics
6/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
June 10, 2003
Three Air Force Academy cadet-athletes have been honored for their excellence on and off the field. Senior swimmer John Dayton has been named to the Verizon Academic All-American third-team while track and field athletes Elissa Ballas (senior) and Bryant Bevan (junior) have been selected to the Verizon Academic All-District VII teams as voted on by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Ballas and Bevan will now appear on the national ballot for Academic All-American honors.
Dayton, who was a first-team all-district selection earlier this season, had a 3.79 grade point average and majored in aerospace engineering. He graduated with the class of 2003 from the Academy May 28. Dayton helped the men's swimming team to a 12-2 record and a second-place finish at the Mountain West Conference championships, the Academy's highest-ever placing.
Ballas graduated last month with a 3.77 grade point average and a degree in biochemistry. She was a three-time academic all-conference selection in the MWC in both cross country and track and field. She also served as team captain for both squads. She owns the Academy's No. 1 all-time best mark in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:30.56.
Bevan just completed his junior season at the Academy. He won the MWC indoor championship in the 800-meter run and his time of 1:50.77 ranks fourth all-time at the Academy. He has a 3.64 grade point average and is majoring in aeronautical engineering. He is spending part of his summer doing an internship with the Systems Research and Development Corporation.
District VII includes all schools within the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming. The Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan are also represented.
