CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Fighting Illini track and field redshirt senior Jonathan Wells was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America announced Thursday. Wells is the fourth first team selection in Illinois track & field history.
With Wells' selection to the first team, this is the second consecutive year Illinois track & field has boasted a first team Academic All-American. Three-time All-American Joe Haight was selected for the honor in 2019.Three-time NCAA Champion and nine-time All-American Angela Bizzarri was named a first team Academic All-American in 2010. Big Ten Triple Jump champion Aaron Mobarak was named a Men's At-Large first teamer in 1991. Wells is the 14th Academic All-American overall in program history.
A native of Fox Lake, Ill., Wells is a six-time All-American. He has achieved All-America honors four times in the High Jump and once in both the Long Jump and the Heptathlon. He is the Illinois record holder in the outdoor High Jump (7-5, 2.26 meters) and in the Heptathlon (5,786 points).
Wells is a three-time Big Ten Champion, taking gold twice in the High Jump and capturing his first conference title in the Long Jump at the 2020 Big Ten Indoor Championships. With this season's B1G Long Jump title, Wells became one of six athletes in Big Ten history, indoor or outdoor, to win Big Ten titles in both the Long Jump and High Jump in a career.
In the classroom, Wells has excelled both as an undergraduate and graduate student in the Illinois Gies College of Business, one of the top 10 public business schools in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Management in May of 2018, finishing with a 3.45 GPA. Wells received his Master's degree in Technology Management this past May, achieving a graduate GPA of 3.76.
Wells joins Garrett Acton of Illinois Baseball as first team Academic All-America selections from Illinois Athletics for 2020. This is the first time since 2010 and seventh time since 1971 that Illinois Athletics has had two first team Academic All-American selections in the same year.
Illinois Track & Field Academic All-Americans
2020 - Jonathan Wells (First Team)
2019 - Joe Haight (First Team)
2017 - David Kendziera (Second Team)
2013 - Brandon Stryganek (Second Team)
2013 - Marissa Golliday (Third Team)
2010 - Angela Bizzarri (First Team)
2009 - Angela Bizzarri (Second Team)
2007 - Jason Bill (Third Team)
2006 - Cassie Hunt (Second Team)
2003 - Perdita Felicien (Third Team)
1995 - Carmel Corbett (Second Team)
1994 - Carmel Corbett (Second Team)
1991 - Aaron Mobarak (First Team)
1983 - Marianne Dickerson (Third Team)
Illinois Athletics Years With Two First Team Academic All-Americans
2020 - Jonathan Wells (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country), Garrett Acton (Baseball)
2010 - Angela Bizzarri (Women's Track & Field/Cross Country), Johannah Bangert (Volleyball)
2000 - Josh Whitman (Football), Jason Anderson (Baseball)
1991 - Aaron Mobarak (Men's Track & Field/Cross Country), Mike Hopkins (Football)
1982 - Lisa Robinson (Women's Basketball), Dan Gregus (Football)
1980 - Liz Brauer (Women's Basketball), Dan Gregus (Football)
1971 - Wes Dixon (Baseball), Bob Bucklin (Football)
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