Webber's Jordon Murrell earns CoSIDA Academic All-District honors

by Richard Baptist

Babson Park, Fla. (06/10/2020) — Webber International University junior men's track & field athlete Jordon Murrell was selected to the Academic All-District 1 Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America in the NAIA Men's Track & Field / Cross Country Division.

The 2020 Academic All-District Men's Track & Field / Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must hold a grade point average of at least 3.3 and be a starter or key reserve on their team. This year, a special exception was made to use career stats due to spring sports seasons being incomplete.

Murrell, a native of Parrish, Florida, who boasts a very impressive 3.92 grade point average in the sport business management program at Webber, is a sprinter and has been a captain on the Warriors' men's track & field team since his freshman year.

Murrell was The Sun Conference's Male A.O. Duer Scholarship Award Nominee in 2019, and he is up for the award again this year in 2020.

In May 2018, Murrell was a recipient of the NAIA's Outdoor Track & Field Champions of Character Award as only a freshman, becoming the first Warrior to earn the award in track & field. Murrell was also at outdoor nationals that year competing in the 4x100 meter relay for Webber.

Murrell has earned both Academic All-Sun Conference and Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors in 2020 and has been a member of the Dean's List at Webber ever semester.

Last but not least, Murrell works as a youth camp counselor encouraging kids to joins sports and stay active, is a resident assistant at Webber, and has been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity (helping paint houses) and with various hurricane recovery projects. Jordon was chosen by the athletic administration committee during his freshman year at Webber to have a voice on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), and was also invited into Webber's honors program in 2019. Jordon is a member of the Phi Beta Lambda business club at Webber where he has placed top-three in both of his competitive state events.

Murrell said, "I am always willing to serve others; I don't mind taking time out of my day to help someone else. I was always taught it is better to give than to receive. When it comes to my sport, I am a hard worker. I arrive to practice and the weight room with the mindset to get better. I am someone who will keep striving no matter how hard it is. But I am also a team player, someone who is willing to motivate and push my teammates on and off the track. Last year I dealt with injuries, but I did not let that stop me from supporting and encouraging my teammates, because at the end of the day, they are my teammates but most importantly they are family."

Webber's Head Track & Field Coach David Andrews said, "Jordon has gone to great lengths to improve himself over the last year. He has challenged himself to be a more well-rounded individual by focusing on being a better teammate, friend, student, and role model. He dove in head first into the university's community as well as the local communities. On campus, Jordon is a resident assistant, is a part of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), is a Team Tutor, Team Huddle Leader (small group devotional), and Team Captain. Off campus, Jordon volunteered with the Frostproof Youth Football and Cheer league, Babson Park Elementary Big Brother Program, and the Lake Wales YMCA. Mr. Murrell takes it upon himself to be a positive leader. He is an encourager, speaking words of affirmation to the young kids as well as his peers. He builds up the community; they trust him, and we are all better because of the love he has for his fellow man."

Murrell joins nine other athletes one the 2020 Academic All-District 1 Men's Track & Field / Cross Country Team.

Murrell will now advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot. Academic All-America honorees will be announced from June 22-25.

For more information about CoSIDA's Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com or the Academic All-America home page on CoSIDA.com.

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