Putting the Student in Student-Athlete

April 9, 2010

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma Athletics Communications student assistant Ben Coldagelli recently profiled OU Track and Field senior Amy Backel for the Student-Athlete Spotlight series on Big12Sports.com. For Backel, who arrived at OU in 2006 as a multi-event athlete before transitioning to the javelin and shot put, there always seems to be change in the program, whether in position coaches or events. One thing that hasn't changed for Backel is the ability to excel both on and off the field.

Recently named the 2010 OU College of Engineering Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering, Backel has been named to the last three Academic All-Big 12 teams with a perfect 4.0 grade point average. This outdoor season also marks a return to the javelin for Backel after she was limited to just the shot put in 2009 with an elbow injury.

Just two meets into her return to the event she claimed All-America status in 2008, Backel has already picked up an individual title, been named the Big 12 Athlete of the Week and extended her own program record in the event.

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By Benjamin Coldagelli
Big 12 Campus Correspondent

Amy Backel is a perfectionist.

The senior thrower for the University of Oklahoma track and field team strives to continually give her all, and nothing less.

“I'm a little OCD,” Backel said. “When I get started on something, whether it's for track or school, I always want to do it to the best of my ability.”

Backel currently holds the school record for the javelin event. She has collected All-Big 12 honors three times for the indoor season and twice in outdoor events. Backel was also a 2008 NCAA Outdoor All-American in the javelin and competed in the 2008 United States Olympic Team Trials.

Backel's performance and the work ethic she exerts in her sport is identical to her work in the classroom, where she majors in civil engineering.

“It's odd, but I love math and really enjoy physics. So I just decided to go the engineering route,” Backel said.

Read the rest of the story here.