Mean Green
As the groundbreaking for UNT’s one-of-a-kind new stadium made 2009 a historic year, the University’s commitment to the development of women’s athletic programs and to the success of its student-athletes once again garnered national recognition.
Still No. 1 in Gender Equity
UNT was the national champion of the annual Gender Equity Scorecard released by Penn State York in 2009, marking the second consecutive year the University took the No. 1 spot in the nation and the third year it topped the Sun Belt Conference. UNT was the only school to receive an A+ on the scorecard, which measures the commitment of 115 NCAA Division I colleges to gender equity. Colleges are graded based on participation, scholarships, operating expenses, recruitment budgets and coaches’ salaries. Since 2002, UNT has added 10 new facilities, including courts, fields and an academic center, to help student-athletes excel.
Academic Excellence
UNT’s student-athletes have made great strides academically, according to the NCAA’s latest Academic Progress Rate, or APR, which tracks academic performance over a four-year period based on eligibility, retention and graduation criteria. Thirteen of the 16 UNT sports had a single-year score equal to or better than the previous year’s score, including seven with perfect single-year 1,000 scores, according to the most recent data. The women’s soccer program earned another NCAA Public Recognition Award for scoring in the top 10 percent of NCAA Division I women’s soccer programs in the nation. It is the second time in the last three years the team placed in the top 10 percent.
World Champion
When Mean Green freshman sprinter Keyth Talley won the 200-meter dash at the USA Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships last summer in Eugene, Ore., he became the first junior national champion in UNT history. He then represented the Junior USA team at the 2009 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships in Port of Spain, Trinidad, and became the first UNT athlete to medal there. He brought home gold and silver, running the first leg for the winning 4x100 relay team, which set a Pan American Championship record, and placing second in the 200-meter dash. Talley was named the Sun Belt Conference Indoor and Outdoor Freshman of the Year and this season is continuing his record-breaking pace.
