Delaware’s Karen Mandrachia Earns Spot on Capital One/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic Track Team
June 2, 2011
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File Photo Courtesy of Mark Campbell
NEWARK, Del. -- Karen Mandrachia (at right), who capped an outstanding career on the cross country course, on the track, and in the classroom the last four years, has earned a spot on the Capital One/College Sports Information Directors of America District II Women’s Cross Country & Track & Field University Division All-Academic first team.
Mandrachia, who earned her degree in exercise science with a minor in biology from UD last week, was one of 10 student-athletes named to the first team. She is now eligible for Academic All-American honors. The team is scheduled to be announced later this month.
The University Division encompasses all NCAA Division I schools with District II covering all schools in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. To be eligible, student-athletes must have at least sophomore eligibility, be a starter or key reserve, and carry a 3.3 or better grade point average.
Mandrachia becomes the eighth University of Delaware student-athlete to earn CoSIDA District II All-Academic honors in 2010-11. She joins Pat Devlin (Football), Zach Reed (Football), Mark Mackey (Football), Jess Chason (Volleyball), Greta Gibboney (Volleyball), Elena Delle Donne (Women’s Basketball), and Megan Doran (Women’s Tennis).
Mandrachia (pronounced “man-drake-e-uh”), a native of Newark, Del. (Newark High School), earned 12 varsity letters and was a team captain for each sport during her career, competing in cross country for head coach Jim Fischer and in indoor track & field and outdoor track & field as a middle distance runner for head coach Wendy McFarlane.
A Dean’s List student and an eight-time member of the Colonial Athletic Association Academic Honor Roll, Mandrachia posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.84 for her academic career. She was one of just 13 students nationally who received a $6,000 NCAA Women’s Postgraduate Scholarship for Careers in Athletics this past spring and will attend graduate school and pursue a master’s degree in physical therapy this fall.
She earned three letters in cross country, competing in 21 career meets and posting nine top 10 finishes. As a four-year standout in indoor track and field as a middle to long distance specialist, she captured 10 career meet titles and earned All-East honors in 2010 when she helped lead the Blue Hens to a fourth place finish in the distance medley relay. During the outdoor season, she earned four letters, won seven career meet titles, and placed 20th in the 4 x 800 meter relay in 2009.
Mandrachia set school outdoor track and field records in the distance medley relay (12:16.23) and 4 x 1,500 meter relay (19:02.19) and owns the second best 1,500 meter time in school history with a mark of 4:34.27. Indoors, she owns school standards in the 1,000 meters (2:52.71) and 4 x 800 medley relay (9:15.89) and ranks No. 3 in the 800 meters (2:16.49) and No. 6 in the mile run (5:00.30).
She also has served as a peer mentor with the H.E.N.S. (Helping Each Newcomer Succeed) program in athletics and earned her team’s UD Sportsmanship Award.
Joining Mandrachia on the District II All-Academic team were Renee Tomlin of Georgetown, Ashley DeCruise of Mt. St. Mary’s, Sarah-Anne Brault, April Rotilio, and Keri Bland of West Virginia, Caroline Tolli, Sarah Moniz, and Kristin Bretscher of Bucknell, and Sheila Reid of Villanova. Mandrachia’s 3.84 grade point average was the third highest among the group.
