BUFFALO, NY – Samantha Kelly (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) of the Buffalo State cross country team, and David Ibalio (Sloatsburg, NY/Nyack), Chris Kaszynski (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West), and Jenna Raczka (Cheektowaga, NY/Maryvale) of the Buffalo State track and field teams have been recognized for their outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments, earning selection to the 2022-23 Track and Field/Cross Country Academic All-District Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators.

To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must display combined excellence in their sport and in the classroom, maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or above through at least two full semesters at their institution, while serving as key contributors and also participating in at least 50% of their team's contests during the season.

Kelly, a junior English education major, held a 3.85 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2022 semester. She was consistently one of the top finishers for Buffalo State during the cross country season, including a personal-best time of 26:58.0 at the Canisius Alumni Classic. Kelly is also a member of the softball team at Buffalo State.

Ibalio, a sophomore business major, was one of the top sprinters for the Bengals during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons, while also sporting a 3.61 cumulative GPA in the classroom. He posted the team's third-best times in both the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. Ibalio was also a member of the 4x100-meter relay team that qualified for the AARTFC regional meet with a time of 42.94 seconds.

Kaszynski completed a record-breaking season for the Bengals which including school records in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault. The sophomore business major took third place at the indoor conference meet, and also recorded a top mark of 4.90 meters in the outdoor season. That mark earned him USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region honors, while also qualifying for the national championship meet. In the classroom, Kaszynski has a 3.56 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2022 semester.

Raczka, a sophomore biology major, holds a 3.80 cumulative GPA through the Fall 2022 semester. She was a double winner at the SUNYAC Outdoor Championships, taking the victory in the 400-meter dash, while also helping the 4x400-meter relay to the top finish. Raczka also earned USTFCCCA All-Niagara Region recognition in the relay, finishing with the third-fastest time in the region at 3:53.63.  

With the Academic All-District distinction, all four athletes will advance to the ballot for Academic All-America.
 
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