WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary’s University men’s and women’s cross country teams earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association academic honors, it was announced Friday.
The Cardinal men were one of eight Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools to receive the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, while the SMU women were among 10 conference schools named to the All-Academic Team.
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 3.10 team cumulative grade-point-average. SMU’s men boasted a 3.42 GPA — 25th-best among the 110 men’s teams receiving the academic honor — while Cardinal women compiled a 3.35 GPA.
For the second year in a row, Williams was named the 20009 NCAA Division III USTFCCCA Men’s Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. Heidelberg College had the highest overall team GPA (3.59). A record total of 110 NCAA Division III men’s programs received the USTFCCCA’s All-Academic Team award this year.
On the women’s side, UW-Eau Claire, earning All-Academic honors for the fifth straight year, was the Women’s Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. Whitworth University had the highest GPA (3.73). A total of 153 NCAA Division III women’s programs received the USTFCCCA academic honor this year.