Muhlenberg junior John Brodowski is in 12th place after the first half of the decathlon at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Decatur, Ill.

Brodowski has 3,235 points through five events – 81 more than he had on Day 1 last year, when he finished 13th. He was tied for fifth after the first two events, the 100 meters and the long jump, but came in last among the 16 competitors in the 400 and second-to-last in the shot put. Brodowski’s best finish so far is fourth with a long jump of 21-4.

Sophomore Danielle Seiler was 17th in the 400 hurdles in her first trip to the NCAAs.

Click here for the official meet site.

Seniors Sarah Niebler and Mackenzie Parke of the Centennial Conference-champion Muhlenberg women’s tennis team have both been selected to the Academic All-District II College Division Women’s At-Large teams by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Niebler, who graduated Sunday with a double major in political science and philosophy, earned a spot on the first team. She received second-team honors last year and will go on to the Academic All-America ballot.

Parke graduated with degrees in business administration and political science. She is the second person in her family to receive the honor, hers coming a year after her brother, Cameron, made the first team in his senior year as a Mule tennis player.

To be nominated for the Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average and a starter or significant reserve on his or her team. The District II College Division consists of all non-Division I colleges and universities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. The women’s at-large teams consisted of athletes from field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, tennis and water polo.

Parke and Niebler are as accomplished on the court as they are in the classroom. Parke holds Muhlenberg career records for singles wins (39), doubles wins (39) and combined wins (78) in spring dual matches. Niebler ranks second with 36 wins at singles, 35 at doubles and 71 combined. They helped Muhlenberg go 10-0 in the conference and 12-3 overall in 2004.