Dillard’s Cody Branch, Benjamin Todd and Christopher Watson Named 2022 NAIA All-Academic Athletes By the USTFCCCA

New Orleans – Dillard's Cody Branch, Benjamin Todd and Christopher Watson were all recently named 2022 NAIA All-Academic Athletes by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Branch, Todd and Watson are in distinguished company as only three of 300 men nationally named All-Academic Athletes this year by the NAIA. They are the only three from any school in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) to be named NAIA All-Academic Athletes by the USTFCCCA this season.

The criteria to be named are a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) or 3.25 or higher and having achieved an 'A' or 'B' standard in a championship event. The athlete also must have completed at least two semesters at their institution in order to qualify.

All three had outstanding springs for Dillard in 2022 and were part of the 4x400 NAIA Outdoor Qualifying Relay Team. The group along with Joshun Noel and Jamaal Morris Jr. finished eighth nationally in the 4x400m relay to be All-Americans. Branch qualified for the NAIA Outdoor Championships in a total of five events (100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m and the 4x400m relay). He was also All-GCAC in four events this season (400m, 4x100m relay, 100m and the 400m). He also was a two-time weekly GCAC Track Award Winner. Todd was All-GCAC and qualified for nationals this season for Dillard in the 4x400m relay. He was also selected for CoSIDA's Academic All-District Team in the spring. Watson was All-GCAC in three events (4x400m relay, high jump and long jump). He also qualified for NAIA Outdoor Nationals as a member of the 4x400m relay team. Watson was named the GCAC Field Athlete of the Week on April 5, 2022. All three played a vital role in Dillard winning its second straight GCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

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