Giller and Matthew Named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes

NEW ORLEANS - Juniors Christian Giller and Anthony Matthew of the Florida Southern College men's track team were named U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Athletes for the 2024-25 season. The pair represent the sixth and seventh USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete selections in program history joining Joshua Wagner (2018-22), who received the honor in both 2021 and 2022, and Mitchell Kozik (2018-22), who was an All-Academic Athlete following the 2022 season. The pair of Giller and Matthew earned the same honor last season.
 
In order to be named an All-Academic Athlete the student-athlete must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of a 3.25 on a 4.0 scale through the end of the semester of competition. They must have completed at least 24 semester hours through the end of the semester of competition at the institution. The student-athlete must also have achieved an automatic or provisional qualifying mark (individual or relay event) for either the indoor season or outdoor season.
 
Giller, a USTFCCCA All-South Region selection in the indoor 5,000m and the outdoor 10,000m, earned a qualifying mark in the 10,000m during the outdoor season. The junior posted a time of 29:31.33 at the Franson Last Chance meet which ranks as the second best time in program history. He took home three individual victories this outdoor season. During the indoor campaign, Giller set a new program record in the 5,000m at the GVSU Holiday Open in early December, stopping the clock at 14:11.29. 
 
Matthew, a USTFCCCA All-South Region selection in the indoor mile and outdoor 800m and 1,500m, set program records in the indoor mile and outdoor 800m and 1,500m this past year. During the indoor season, he took home three top-five finishes including one podium honor. During the outdoor campaign, he earned eight top-10 finishes including four podium finishes with a win at the Tampa Spartans Classic. Matthew set the new indoor mile record at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational with a mark of 4:07.28. He then set two outdoor records including the 800m, at the South Florida Invitational where he crossed the line in 1:49.95, and the 1,500m, at the Florida Pepsi Relays with a record time of 3:46.89.
 
Giller and Matthew joined six student-athletes from Embry-Riddle, one from Flagler, and a pair from Lynn to represent the state of Florida.