Burke recognized for work on track, in class

Southeast Missourian

Southeast Missouri State University distance runner Jennifer Burke has been named to the third team CoSIDA Academic All-America women's cross country/track and field team.

Burke, who has a 4.0 cumulative grade point average in health management, is the second Southeast athlete to be named Academic All-America this year, joining basketball player Derek Winans.

A native of Wright City, Mo., and a graduate of St. Dominic High School, Burke battled through illness and injuries to help lead Southeast's women to the 2004 Ohio Valley Conference indoor and outdoor track and field championships.

Burke was a member of the OVC championship indoor distance medley relay team and ran on the 1,600-meter relay team that finished second at the OVC outdoor.

Burke graduated from Southeast in just three years and is currently a graduate student. She has one more year of eligibility in indoor and outdoor track and plans to compete as a graduate student next season.

"We are really proud of Jennifer's accomplishments," Southeast coach Joey Haines said. "It hasn't been easy for her because of illness and injuries, but she has excelled both on the track and in the classroom."