RICHMOND, Ky. - Three Eastern Kentucky University athletes have been selected to GTE Academic All-District teams for District IV for the University Division Spring Sports At-Large Teams, released earlier this week.

Senior track stars Sarah Blossom of Indianapolis, IN, and Daniel Blochwitz of Niederwillingen, Germany, were both selected to the GTE Academic All-District first teams, while senior tennis player Chad Williams of Louisa was a second-team GTE Academic All-District pick.

Blossom, who was named a first-team GTE Academic All-American for the Fall/Winter Sports At-Large Team back in April, received her fifth notice on a GTE Academic squad in her four years at Eastern.

A 4.0 student who graduated with a degree in occupational therapy in May with a minor in psychology, Blossom was a second-team All-OVC Indoor Team and All-OVC Outdoor Team selection in 1999. She was also a three-time All-OVC Cross Country Team member and was the 1995 OVC Female Cross Country Runner of the Year.

Blossom has also received the OVC Academic Medal of Honor three times which signifies the athlete with the highest GPA in that particular sport for an academic year. She has also been named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times and to the Dean's List, a Presidential Scholar and an EKU Colonel Scholar, four years each.

Blochwitz, who compiled a 3.76 GPA in photography at Eastern, was a 1999 All-OVC Outdoor Team selection after winning the 400-meter hurdles at the conference meet May 1^st. A five-time All-OVC track athlete, Blochwitz is the school's recordholder in two events - the 400-meter hurdles (51.30) and the 800-meter run (1:51.08).

A first-team selection to the 1998 GTE Academic All-District team for Spring Sports At-Large, Blochwitz is an eight-time German champion in the 400-meter hurdles.

Williams, who repeats this year as a second-team GTE Academic All-District pick, served as team captain this past season for coach Tom Higgins' Colonel netters. He played No. 3 singles, compiling a 6-14 mark, and No. 2 doubles where he and his partner were 9-11.

Having compiled a 3.91 GPA in insurance studies, Williams was 13-13 in singles play and 9-5 in doubles action as a junior.

To be nominated, student athletes must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in the five-state area of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama and Tennessee. Blossom and Blochwitz will now appear on the national ballots for the GTE Academic All-America teams to be announced in mid-June.