DENVER-- CSU Bakersfield track and field student-athlete Karnell Grimes has been named the 2014-15 Western Athletic Conference Stan Bates Award winner. Named in honor of former WAC Commissioner Stan Bates, the annual award is given to the WAC's top male and female scholar-athletes and recognizes the recipients' athletic, academic, and community accomplishments. The award includes a $3,000 postgraduate scholarship.
Grimes, a native of Rosamond, Calif., graduated with honors from CSUB with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. He completed his program with a GPA of 3.57 and earned the Outstanding Biochemistry Student Award this past academic year. Grimes was also named to the Academic All-Conference team in three of his four seasons with the CSUB track and field team. This summer, he became the first Roadrunner to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.
CSU Bakersfield's Faculty Athletics Representative, Dr. Roy LaFever, was able to work closely with Grimes as a professor of biochemistry and had high praises: “Karnell is an outstanding student that has shown his acumen in both general education and major related coursework throughout his time at CSUB. His unwavering work ethic is a model for students across our campus.”
Before Grimes ever threw the javelin for the 'Runners, he came to Bakersfield to play baseball for CSUB. After redshirting a year, Grimes made the switch to track and field and showed steady improvement throughout his career. 2015 proved to be a breakout season for Grimes who increased his previous personal best five times.
At the Bulldog Invitational in Fresno, Calif., Grimes posted his personal best throw of 204-05, making him the first 'Runner to go over 200 feet since 2001. The mark was also good enough for fourth-best all-time in CSUB history. Grimes went on to win the 2015 WAC title in the javelin and earn his second First Team All-Conference honor.
“I am so pleased for Karnell,” said Marcia Mansur-Wentworth, CSUB's Director of Track and Field. “He is an incredibly well-rounded student athlete who won at Conference and qualified for the first round of NCAAs. Karnell was a great teammate, always the first to give a high five or a hug. Alan Collatz, Karnell's throwing coach, and I are so proud of what he has accomplished and the tremendous impression he has left on this program.”
Grimes' commitment was not limited to just the classroom and the field as the CSUB graduate was an active member in the community. During his five years in Bakersfield, he volunteered hundreds of hours to community service and was an active leader of student-athletes. Grimes also regularly made time to support the rest of CSUB Athletics, rarely missing a home event.
Since completing his degree this spring, Grimes is planning to continue his education in a graduate program.
To view the WAC Digital Network's video announcement of the Stan Bates Award winners, click here.
~GoRunners.com~
