NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Carleton College distance runner Matt Wilkinson '21 (Greenwood, Minn./Minnetonka) was chosen for the Academic All-America® Division III Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Team in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Academic All-America program recognizes excellence in both the classroom and competition.
 
Carleton student-athletes have now earned the Academic All-America Award a total of 31 times overall, including 10 first-team selections, 16 second-team picks, and 5 third-teamers. (SEE FULL LIST OF CARLETON HONOREES BELOW.) Wilkinson was a Second Team Academic All-America pick last year, making him the fourth Carleton student-athlete to garner recognition twice, joining Ted Marschall '09 (men's swimming), Simone Childs-Walker '12 (women's track & field/cross country), and Amelia Campbell '16 (women's track & field).
 
A biology major, Wilkinson earned the national crown in both the 3000-meter steeplechase and 5000-meter run at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. This was the first time since 2008 that someone won both those events at the same D-III Championships. Those results earned Wilkinson recognition as the U.S  Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men's Track Athlete of the Year for 2021, and he was honored as an Outstanding Performer of the Meet.
 
Those were the latest of Wilkinson's eight All-America performances, having previously earned honors twice for cross country, three times for both indoor track & field, and once for outdoor track & field.
 
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carleton did not compete in either cross country or indoor track & field during the 2021-22 academic year. However, the 2021 outdoor track season saw Wilkinson post career best results and he now ranks third in Division III history in the steeplechase (8:44.01) and fourth at the 5000m distance (13:55.27).
 
During the 2019-20 academic year, he earned All-America Awards in cross country—after finishing in second place at the NCAA Championships—as well as for both the indoor 3000 and 5000-meter races. He was the top seed in both of those events but did not get to compete when the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Wilkinson was selected as the USTFCCCA Indoor Track Athlete of Year for 2020. In addition to his top ranking for the indoor 3K and 5K, he also posted the nation's third-fastest time in the indoor mile.
 
Among his many other accolades, Wilkinson is a three-time USTFCCCA Central Region Athlete of the Year; a 12-time All-Region performer (3 cross country, 5 indoor track & field, and 4 outdoor & field); a 15-time All-MIAC racer, including nine conference titles; and a two-time Academic All-District selection.
 
The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference saw three others student-athletes honored as well, Shawn Schindler of Saint John's University joined Wilkinson on the men's first team. Helen Dolan from Hamline University was named to the women's first team, while Birgen Nelson of Gustavus Adolphus College was a third-team pick.
 
To be eligible for the Academic All-District and Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution, and be nominated by the school's sports information director.

Carleton College Academic All-Americans®

Academic Year	Student-Athlete	Academic All-America Team	Sport/Position
1992-93	Scott Hanks	Football (1st team)	Tight End
1994-95	Jon Bougie	Men's At-Large (2nd team)	Track & Cross Country
1994-95	Lydia Neilsen	Women's At-Large (2nd team)	Swimming
1995-96	Kevin Theissen	Men's At-Large (3rd team)	Track & Cross Country
1997-98	Max Harper	Men's At-Large (2nd team)	Swimming
1988-99	Josh Wilhelm	Men's Basketball (2nd team)	Forward
1999-2000	Sandra Helquist	Women's At-Large (3rd team)	Track & Field
2000-01	Jeff Thurk	Football (2nd team)	Defensive Line
2000-01	Carl Tape	Men's At-Large (2nd team)	Soccer
2002-03	Jason Brown	Men's At-Large (1st team)	Swimming
2002-03	Matt Hooley	Men's Track/Cross Country (3rd team)	Track & Cross Country
2003-04	Britta Vietenheimer	Women's At-Large (2nd team)	Swimming
2005-06	David Watson	Men's Soccer (3rd team)	Midfielder
2007-08	Ted Marschall	Men's At-Large (3rd team)	Swimming
2008-09	Ted Marschall	Men's At-Large (2nd team)	Swimming
2010-11	Will Taylor	Football (2nd team)	Offensive Line
2010-11	Simone Childs-Walker	Women's Track/Cross Country (1st team)	Track & Cross Country
2011-12	Simone Childs-Walker	Women's Track/Cross Country (1st team)	Track & Cross Country
2012-13	Simon Ginet	Men's Soccer (1st Team)	Forward
2012-13	Erik Klontz	Men's At-Large (1st team)	Swimming
2013-14	David Stillerman	Baseball (2nd Team)	Infield
2014-15	Amelia Campbell	Women's Track/Cross Country (2nd team)	Track & Field
2015-16	Hart Hornor	Men's Track/Cross Country (1st team)	Track & Cross Country
2015-16	Amelia Campbell	Women's Track/Cross Country (1st team)	Track & Field
2015-16	Ruth Steinke	Women's Track/Cross Country (2nd team)	Track & Cross Country
2017-18	Ziyi Wang	Women's At-Large (2nd team)	Golf
2018-19	Tris Dodge	Men's Track/Cross Country (2nd team)	Track & Cross Country
2019-20	Natalie Maurice	Softball (2nd team)	Catcher
2019-20	Matt Wilkinson	Men's Track/Cross Country (2nd team)	Track & Cross Country
2020-21	Aaron Forman	Men's Soccer (1st Team)	Goalkeeper
2020-21	Matt Wilkinson	Men's Track/Cross Country (2nd team)	Track & Cross Country