(Note: Click on ATF logo for pdf version of the report)

Fort Atkinson, WI - American Track & Field magazine released a comparative analysis of NCAA graduation rates today. The analysis is the second and last piece for 2004 in a series of NCAA related stories by ATF.

ATF's study of NCAA released figures, shows that participants in cross country and track & field graduate at a higher rate than their peers that are not involved in athletics.

Males participating in cross country or track & field graduate at a rate of 57% in comparison to the 56% graduation rate of those students not participating in athletics. Females participating in cross country or track & field graduate at a rate of 66% in comparison to the 61% graduation rate of those students not participating in athletics.

"These statistics reinforce the notion that athletes are becoming smarter and more cerebral as a match to their outstanding athletic ability," said Larry Eder, ATF Publisher.

The ethnic group with the largest graduation rate difference was African- Americans as males involved in cross country and track & field had a 16% higher graduation rate (50% compared to 34%) than African- American males not involved in athletics. African-American females involved in cross country or track & field had a 15% higher graduation rate (60% compared to 45%) compared to African-American females not involved in athletics.

American Track & Field is a professional publication dedicated to the improvement of both the image and the performance of American athletes in the disciplines of track and field, cross country, and race walking. ATF takes a grassroots approach to improving the quality of coaching to the 1.51 million serious athletes in these disciplines by becoming the source of training information.

For more information, please visit www.american-trackandfield.com .