By Daniel Whitehead for MSNsportsNET.com
August 11, 2011 01:14 PM
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – As one of the top running programs in the nation, the West Virginia track and field team proved to be scholastic as well as it was named a United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches of America (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.
With a 3.39 cumulative grade-point average (GPA), the Mountaineers were one of 164 programs that the organization named to its list in recognition for maintaining at least a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
“This is a great way to start the year,” says WVU coach Sean Cleary. “Knowing that we are coming off one of our best track seasons ever, in addition to this academic honor, shows that we are continuing in the right direction as a program. To have a 3.39 GPA across 50-plus women is outstanding.”
Sean Cleary
The BIG EAST Conference had 12 of its institutions reach All-Academic status to lead all conferences across the country. Eleven from the Big 12 were also named to the All-Academic list, followed by the Big Ten and Ivy League which claimed eight apiece.
Last week, 11 Mountaineer student-athletes were individually named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team in Sarah-Anne Brault, Chelsea Carrier, Kaylyn Christopher, Kaitlyn Gillespie, Kathryn Harrison, Ahna Lewis, Meghan Mock, Jessica O’Connell, April Rotilio, Chene Townsend and Katelyn Williams. WVU tied for sixth in the nation for the most to be recognized from one institution.
Texas and Oklahoma shared the women’s Scholar Team of the Year award for the 2011 season, while Princeton reported a team GPA of 3.68.
The Mountaineers have placed in the Top 20 in both indoor and outdoor track the past four seasons.