March 12, 2010
NEW ORLEANS -
The Illinois State women's cross country team was one of 176 Division I women's programs that was named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team for 2009, as announced by the organization Friday.
The 176 programs on the list set a new record, topping the previous mark of 162 set in 2008. 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 Championship and also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade-point average (GPA).
ISU was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic team for the third season in a row and compiled a 3.53 team GPA during the 2009 season. The Redbirds took second place at the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championships in the fall and then went on to finish 13th at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships to cap off a successful season.
Head coach Jeff Bovee knows how much work his student-athletes put in throughout the year and is proud of his team's latest accomplishment.
"Our goal is to recruit quality student-athletes that carry the same work ethic on the course or on the track into the classroom," Bovee said. "I would like to take credit for that success, but they do all the work and put in the time. They have a lot of pride in what they do, both academically and athletically. They are giving themselves tremendous opportunities after graduation with all the hard work they are putting in and that's why there are here at Illinois State."
Villanova's women's cross country team was the 2009 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. That distinction goes to the program that earned All-Academic Team honors and placed the highest among the field at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Alabama led the All-Academic Team honorees with a cumulative team GPA of 3.86, followed closely by Missouri Valley Conference member Missouri State with a 3.81 GPA.
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