Bitok Selected as NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Finalist
2/17/2004 11:46:01 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
Bitok is one of 66 male nominees selected who compete in various fall sports. His nomination materials will be reviewed by the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Committee, which will make the final selections at the February 26-29th, 2004 meeting. The committee will select a total of 29 males to receive scholarships.
Bitok was recently named a 2003-04 BIG EAST/Aeropostale Male Scholar Athlete. He will receive $2,000 to apply to graduate studies. Bitok was one of 13 men chosen by the conference to receive the award. He is also a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, a seven-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, and a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar. Bitok was named to the 2003 Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, and he was selected to the all-academic team by the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association. Bitok is also the 2003 recipient of the Hisako Fujitsuka Award for Outstanding International Service and Caring.
Bitok was the track & field team's MVP last year, and he received the team's Most Improved Award in 2002. He won the Championship Division of the IC4A Cross Country Championship in 2002, and he was the first Syracuse runner to do so since 1919. In 2001, Bitok was the top finisher in each cross country race. Also in 2001, he won the University Division of the IC4A Cross Country Championship with a time of 25:34.
Syracuse will compete next at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championship. The championship will be hosted by Syracuse in the Carrier Dome, February 21-22. Daily admission for adults costs $5, while admission for children 18-years and younger and senior citizens 55-years and older costs $3. Students from BIG EAST schools will be admitted free with their student ID.
