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By Ronnie Hiers and Michael MacEachern The Savannah College of Art and Design is once again proving that art and athletics can go hand-in-hand and not just here at home but on the international scene as well. While SCAD student Cheryl Haworth heads to Athens, Greece, to try to bring back a gold medal in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, another member of the SCAD family competed for a world title of her own. Head men and women’s cross country coach Gabi Hauck competed in the Duathlon World Championship, held in Fredericia, Denmark, Aug. 1. A duathlon is a race that consists of running, then biking, followed by running again. In this particular race, Hauck had to run 20 kilometers (12.4 miles), then bike 120 kilometers (74.4 miles) and then run another 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). Hauck finished third in her category (female 35-39) and 96th overall out of a total of 264 competitors. “She continues to be an outstanding representative of the college and the athletics department globally,” said Director of Athletics Jud Damon. The path to the world championship was not an easy one for Hauck. She first had to qualify for the world championships, which she did by placing first in her age group at the Powerman Tennessee Duathlon in College Grove, Tenn. Once she qualified, Hauck had to turn her training up a notch to prepare for the long distances that the world championship had in store. While Hauck is a well-trained runner, having won the 2001 Tybee Island and Kiawah Island marathons, this race required a little more. This type of race not only requires great running and biking skills, but competitors must also be able to make the transition from one skill to the next. Hauck started training back in January, but had a major setback when she sprained her ankle on a training run in the spring. Even so, Hauck continued to train throughout the summer, battling the south Georgia heat. “I did most of my training in Savannah and it can’t be this hot in Denmark,” said Hauck before leaving for Denmark. She did venture out of the flat coastal region for a race in Boone, N.C., in June. The Blood, Sweat, and Gears road race helped Hauck prepare for the hills that she faced in Denmark. The race route in Denmark featured a giant hill with a 13 percent climb and another hill with a 10 percent climb. Volleyball earns academic award for ninth consecutive season The Savannah College of Art and Design volleyball team is one of a record 304 colleges and high school teams that have been awarded the 2003-04 American Volleyball Coaches Association/Molten Team Academic Award. The award, initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors college and high school teams that displayed excellence in the classroom by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade point average during the 2002-03 school year. The college ranks produced 161 schools that met the requirements for the award, while 143 high school teams earned the distinction. The breakdown of college representation includes 46 NCAA Division I schools, 31 NCAA Division II schools, 48 NCAA Division III schools, 27 NAIA schools, and seven junior college/community colleges. It is the ninth consecutive year that SCAD has received the award. Only 12 colleges or high schools have received the award more times in the 12-year history of the program. The Bees, who compiled a 21-21 record last season and a berth in the NAIA Region XIV Tournament, were one of 36 schools honored that also earned a berth in their respective post-season tournament in 2002. The Bees had an overall 3.55 grade point average. “At our first team meeting, we sit down and I ask the team, ‘What are our team goals for the year?’” said SCAD head coach Glenn Cox. “Obviously, they set very high athletic and achievement goals for the year, but without even asking, they also make it clear that we are going to win the AVCA Team Academic Award and have the highest team GPA at SCAD. I am blessed to have such a great group of student athletes who strive to be their best on and off the court.” The Bees open the 2004 season Aug. 27-28 at the Sunbirds Invitational in Fresno, Calif.
Savannah College of Art and Design head volleyball coach Glenn Cox talks to more than 80 participants in the SCAD volleyball camp at Savannah High School July 21. The camp, which was open to children ages 12-18, ran July 19-22 and featured instruction on the fundamental skills of passing, hitting, setting, blocking, serving and playing defense. It was the third year the SCAD athletics department sponsored summer camps and the second year for volleyball. Heirs is assistant sports information director. MacEachern is sports information director. |
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