Washington U. Lands Six on USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams

St. Louis, Mo., March 4, 2009 – The Washington University men’s and women’s cross country teams combined to have six student-athletes named to the 2008 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team, and both the men’s and women’s teams earned an All-Academic Team distinction, as announced by the USTFCCA.

The Washington U. women’s squad, which placed 12th overall at the 2008 NCAA Division III Championships in Hanover, Ind., had five students named to the All-Academic Team: senior Angela Hartman, freshman Erica Jackey, freshman Liz Phillips, junior Molly Schlamb and sophomore Taryn Surtees.

The five recipients from Washington University were the highest among all NCAA Division III institutions, and the University Atheletic Association (UAA) ranked second amongst all conference with 21 recipients on the women’s side. For the men’s team, sophomore Dave Spandorfer earned All-Academic honors. The UAA tied with the Centennial Conference for first-place overall with 13 student-athletes garnering the award.

In order to qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, a student-athlete must excel in the classroom and in the field of competition. The requirements are that a student-athlete must possess a least a 3.5 cumulative grade point (GPA) average and place in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional championship meets. A total of 132 men and 221 women earned the distinction in 2008.

Additionally, both Washington University squads earned the USTFCCA scholar All-Academic Team award. In order to qualify for the team award, a school must compete at their NCAA regional meet and have a combined cumulative GPA of at least 3.10. The Washington University women’s team has a 3.55 team GPA, and the men’s team boasts a 3.48 GPA. All eight UAA cross country programs on the men’s and women’s side earned All-Academic Team honors.