Women's Cross Country Team Named Division II All-Academic Team by USTFCCCA: USciences

February 16, 2012

Women's Cross Country Team Named Division II All-Academic Team by USTFCCCA

New Orleans, La. (2/16/12)- The University of the Sciences women's cross country team has been selected by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as All-Academic Teams for the 2011 cross country season.

This year's selection marks the ninth consecutive year that the women's cross country team has earned Division II All-Academic Team Honors, having earned the honor in each season since becoming NCAA eligible in 2003.

The women's team is also one of just four schools in the region to earn this honor in each of the last seven years (2005-2011)

To qualify for this honor a team must have a cumulative team grade point average through the semester of competition of a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale AND the team must have competed and compiled a team score at their respective NCAA regional. The coach must also be a member of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The eligible members of the USciences women's cross country team recorded a team cumulative GPA of 3.39 for the Fall 2011 semester The USciences women's cross country team's cumulative g.p.a. has been at least 3.0 or better in each of the past 14 seasons under head coach Bob Heller. (27 consecutive semesters). In the Fall 2011 semester, the women's cross country team's g.p.a. was the highest amongst all six women's programs at the University of the Sciences and second highest amongst all 12 sports offered.

The women's team was one of just four Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) teams selected and one of 124 teams nationally to earn this honor amongst the 291 division II schools that offer cross country. The women's team was ranked 10th amongst the region teams honored and 56th nationally.

2011 was an injury-plagued year for the women's program but the team still captured their second consecutive Goldey-Beacom Invitational title and record top ten finishes in three of their other four meets. The Devils placed sixth at the CACC Championships and proceeded to compete at the NCAA East Regional where they finished 25^th out of 31 schools competing. Entering the regional meet, the Devils recorded a 62-48 record against all the teams they competed against in their previous contests.