Bears Land 13 Individuals on USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams

St. Louis, Mo., July 9, 2009 – The Washington University men’s and women’s track and field teams were each honored by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as 2009 All-Academic Teams, it was announced by the association. Additionally, Washington U. had a total of 13 student-athletes earn individual USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field honors.

The Washington U. men’s team posted a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.420 in 2009, the fifth highest among the 51 Division III institutions to earn All-Academic Team recognition. The WU women maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.330 in 2009. The University Athletic Association (UAA) and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) were the only two conferences in the country to have six members represented on both the men’s and women’s All-Academic Track teams.

Seven members of the Washington University women’s track and field team and six from the men’s squad were eligible individually for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team. For the WU women, senior Alli Alberts, senior Aubrey Edwards, freshman Erica Jackey, freshman Katie Hered, freshman Elizabeth Phillips, junior Molly Schlamb and sophomore Taryn Surtees qualified for the team. On the men’s side, junior Alden Black, freshman Dan Davis, sophomore Ben Harmon, senior Pierre Hoppenot, senior Nate Koslof and sophomore Dave Spandorfer earned the honor.

Selections for the individual All-Academic Track and Field Team are dependent on the student-athlete compiling a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 in addition to meeting either an automatic or provisional NCAA Division III qualifying standard in their respective event. In order to be nominated for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team program, a team must carry a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.100.