March 9, 2010
The Commodore men’s and women’s cross country teams received Academic All-America recognition this week from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
For the Commodore men, this is the second consecutive year they have been ranked first in the field, with a nation-best 3.67 GPA. The `Dores tied with Creighton for the highest academic ranking this season.
“This is the second year in a row that the men have had the top GPA in NCAA Division I and I know that they are very proud of this accomplishment,” Commodore Head Coach Steve Keith commented.
For the regional-qualifying Commodore women, this is the fourth consecutive year they have been named to the All-American field. The Dores compiled a 3.36 GPA for the 2009 season.
“This is a nice honor for the women and something that we work towards every year,” Keith noted.
The women have shown a good focus and balance with their academics and their athletics,” Keith said. “It has been this way for a number of years and we are proud to carry on the tradition.”
A record total of 135 Division I men’s programs received USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, up from 2008’s total of 110. A record total of 176 women’s squads also were recognized.
For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average.
