MONMOUTH, Ill. — Kara Kuhrts, a 2003 graduate of Monmouth College, was recently voted to the Verizon District V College Academic All-America Team. Named to the first team, Kuhrts will join the other nine District V first-teamers on the national All-America ballot.

The former Stark County athlete specialized in the triple jump with the Fighting Scots, winning seven of a possible eight indoor and outdoor Midwest Conference championships. She owns the top eight outdoor triple jumps in school history, including her record-breaking 39'6 effort set at Monmouth’s Bobby Woll Memorial Field this season. Kuhrts also owns the indoor record (37’11-3/4) and the top six marks all-time.

At the national level, Kuhrts has received two All-American honors in the triple jump, accomplishing the feat outdoors in 2002 and indoors in 2003.

Kuhrts also contributed for Monmouth in several other events, including this year’s MWC Championships, when she also won the long jump and took second in both the 200-meter dash and the high jump. She finished her outstanding career with 16 indoor and outdoor MWC championships.

In addition to her school-record triple jump, Kuhrts also appears on MC’s all-time honor roll in the long jump (seventh), the 400-meter dash (seventh), the high jump (eighth), the 110-meter hurdles (eighth) and the 400-meter hurdles (ninth). She was also a member of the sixth-best 4x400 squad.

In the classroom, Kuhrts had a GPA of 3.887 at the time of the balloting. She graduated magna cum laude with a double major in communications and theater arts and public relations.

“Kara has exemplified what all Division III athletes should strive to be – a great success academically and an overachiever in her track and field career,” said her coach, Roger Haynes. “She entered college as a good high school athlete, but it was her dedication to her sport that enabled her become a national qualifier and an All-American as well as a multiple conference champion and record holder during her four years.”

Kuhrts is the daughter of Kyle and Ruth Kuhrts of Toulon. Her sister, Amber Kuhrts, was an All-District first team selection in basketball in 2001.