Cross Country Earns Team Academic Honor

Saturday, February 15 2014


Panther men and women recognized by USATFCCA for team GPA
Generic Cross Country Logo EIU
 
NEW ORLEANS – Eastern Illinois men's and women's cross country teams both earned All-Academic Awards as announced by the USTFCCCA on Friday.  EIU's men posted a cumulative team GPA of 3.41 while the women's team posted a cumulative GPA of 3.47.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship.

On the men's side a total of 160 institutions represent 30 conferences that compose the group.  Eastern Illinois men's cross country ranked tied for 25th among the 160 schools listed.  Chattanooga had the top team GPA with a 3.71. The Atlantic 10, Southeastern Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference all had nine teams recognized.

On the women's side a total of 217 institutions represent 30 conferences that compose the group.  Eastern Illinois women's cross country ranked among the top third of those 217 schools.  Southern Mississippi had the highest women's team GPA at 3.79.  Among conferences, the SEC had 13 of its 14 schools earn All-Academic honors followed by the ACC with 12 schools.

The Academic women's team of the year was Providence which won the NCAA Division I National Championship while maintaining a team GPA of 3.38.  Northern Arizona, which finished as the national runner-up in the men's cross country National Championships, was the men's team of the year with a 3.34 team GPA.