March 6, 2009
NEW ORLEANS -
The 2008 Illinois State women's and men's cross country teams were recognized as NCAA Division I United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Cross Country Teams, as announced Thursday by the USTFCCCA office.
Illinois State head cross country coach Jeff Bovee, who just finished his third season coaching the Redbirds, feels that his teams' academic success is just as important as how they compete athletically each season.
"Being in my third year at Illinois State, I feel these programs reflect discipline in and outside of the classroom," said Bovee. "I think that distance runners are inherently self disciplined. It takes the same focus, discipline and efforts when you are training that it does in the classroom and that carries over; it all works together."
The Illinois State women's cross country team earned the distinction by achieving a 3.56 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in the Fall 2008 semester, and a 13-place finish at the NCAAA Midwest Regional (Nov. 15). The Redbird men carried a 3.0 GPA and finished 11th at the regional meet.
Over forty-five percent of all Division I institutions (394) who sponsor women's cross country received the honor. In addition, seven of the top-10 teams and 14 of the top-20 teams at this year's NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams.
The Big East Conference and Big Ten Conference tied for the most conference members represented on the list with 11 teams each, followed by the Southeastern Conference and the Big 12 Conference with nine teams each and the Atlantic Coast Conference with eight teams on the list, while the Missouri Valley Conference had seven teams on the list.
On the men's side, a record total of 110 Division I men's programs received the USTFCCCA's All-Academic Team honors this year compared to 98 schools earning the honor last season.
The Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Missouri Valley Conference, and the Southeastern Conference tied for the most conference members represented on the list with six teams each.
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.
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