SHAWNEE, Okla. (April 21, 2019) – Four Oklahoma Christian women's track and field student-athletes have earned Distinguished Scholar Athlete status from the Great American Conference.

The GAC recognized middle-distance runners Kelsey Castillo and Rachel Meyers, hurdler-sprinter Ivy Lobley and sprinter Leisa VanVooren on Saturday at the end of the GAC Outdoor Championships, hosted by Oklahoma Baptist.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have completed 70 or more college credit hours, have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.70 and have competed at the conference meet. It was the second straight year for Lobley, Meyers and VanVooren to earn the award.

Lobley, a junior nursing major from Dalhart, Texas, finished 12th in the 100-meter hurdles at the GAC meet in 15.90 seconds and placed 15th in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:12.44.

Castillo, a junior nursing major from Edmond, placed seventh in the GAC in the 1,500 meters in 4:51.23 and eighth in the 800 meters in 2:24.05.

Meyers, a senior nursing major from Fort Smith, Ark., was 17th in the 1,500 meters in 5:13.75.

VanVooren, a senior elementary education major from Bedford, Texas, earned All-GAC second-team honors by placing sixth in the 400 meters in a season-best time of 57.76 seconds. She also ran the anchor leg on OC's 4x100-meter relay team that finished fifth in 48.72 seconds

Only 20 female student-athletes across the conference's nine track and field programs earned GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete status.