CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) – Eastern Michigan University senior trackster Oliver Walther (Erfurt, Germany-Pierre-de-Coubertin Gymnasium) was named the Mid-American Conference Male Scholar Athlete of the Week for the period ending Jan. 11. This marks the first time in his career that he has won the weekly honor.

The MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week honor is presented to a MAC male and female student-athlete who has a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better and performs well during the week's competition. The winners are selected by a group of the conference's faculty athletic representatives.

Walther, who holds a 3.92 GPA as a finance major, won the men's long jump at the EMU Invitational, Jan. 9, 2010, at Bob Parks Track. With a leap of 23-03.25, Walther out-jumped competitors from the University of Michigan, Oakland University and Mid-American Conference rival Northern Illinois, among other schools and unattached jumpers. The 2009 Men's Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Academic All-MAC Team selection also had the best season-opening jump of his career.

The Eagles return to competition in a quad meet at Bob Parks Track/Bowen Field House against Oakland University, the University of Detroit Mercy and MAC foe Central Michigan University. The meet begins at 6 p.m.