April 1, 2010
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech track & field athlete Alana Clooten was honored at the 26th annual Peach of an Athlete Role Model Banquet on Tuesday night. The awards program, which is sponsored by the Atlanta Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America, honors student-athletes who are positive role models.
To be honored with the award, which was given to 10 student-athletes at the Cobb Energy Center, one must either be a student-athlete who resides in the state of Georgia or be a student-athlete who participates in a sport at a university located in Georgia.
Clooten, a redshirt senior who competes in throw events for the Jackets, has had an impressive career in her time of the Flats, both on the field of competition and in the classroom.
On the field, Clooten participated in last season’s NCAA Outdoor Championships in the hammer throw, placing 21st overall. Her participation in the event marked the second consecutive year Clooten qualified for the NCAA Outdoor’s. Clooten has also posted the second and third best marks in the hammer in program history during her career.
Off the track, Clooten graduated with a 3.67 GPA in December, earning a degree in Industrial Engineering. In 2009, Clooten was named to both the All-ACC Academic Team for her work in the classroom, but also the CoSIDA All-Academic District II Second Team.
Clooten, who is currently the President of Georgia Tech’s Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), was also named a semi-finalist for the 2009 Wooden Citizenship award, which is presented to the most outstanding role model among college and professional athletes, and has been won by the likes of Peyton Manning, John Smoltz, Andrea Jaeger, Cal Ripken, Jr., and John Lynch.
Clooten and the rest of the Georgia Tech track & field team returns to action this weekend at the Auburn Tiger Track Classic in Auburn, Ala. Action gets underway on Friday afternoon and Saturday.
