NEW ORLEANS – The Illinois State men's and women's cross country teams along with four individual Redbird cross country student-athletes garnered U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic honors for the their efforts in the classroom and on the cross country course.
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction as a team, Illinois State had to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period. In order to qualify for individual All-Academic distinction, student-athletes had to have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and have either qualified for the national championship meet or finished top-5 at their respective conference championship.
The Redbird men's cross country team, who won their first Missouri Valley Conference team title since 2002, combined for a 3.53 grade point average to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors for the sixth-consecutive year and the 11th time overall in the last 13 years.
The 'Birds had four men's runners earn USTFCCCA's All-Academic Athlete distinction after Illinois State had four student-athletes finish in the top-five at the MVC Cross Country Championships as well as an individual NCAA Championships qualifier:
- Kevin Koski, MVC Champion, NCAA Qualifier, Journalism major – 3.67 GPA
- Kimathi Johnson, Third Place, History major – 3.35 GPA
- Charlie Wetzel, Fourth Place, Financial Accounting major – 4.00 GPA
- Jack Anstey, Fifth Place, Physical Education major – 3.57 GPA
Koski, Johnson, Wetzel and Anstey were four of five men's Valley student-athletes to be named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes. Overall, there were 187 men named All-Academic Individuals in NCAA Division I.
ISU's women's cross country team took fourth at the MVC Cross Country Championships and have a cumulative GPA of 3.65. This is the sixth-straight year and 13th time in the last 14 years that the women's squad has been recognized by the USTFCCCA for their academic achievements.
The Valley had eight of 10 teams earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors on the women's side and seven of nine teams earn the recognition on the men's side. Overall, there were 233 women's teams and 199 men's teams that received All-Academic honors in NCAA Division I.
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The Redbirds will host the Redbird Invite tomorrow, April 2, at the Redbird Outdoor Track Complex. Field events are set to begin at 10 a.m. with running events beginning at 1 p.m. Fans must be listed on a team's student-athlete pass list in order to attend the Redbird Invite.
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