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Virginia Cross Country Earns USTFCCCA and ACC Academic Honors
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Feb. 14, 2014
CHARLOTTESVILLE – The Virginia men’s and women’s cross country teams earned several academic awards for the 2013 season on Friday. Both the men’s and women’s teams earned were named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Teams, while five individuals earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. In addition, six Cavaliers were named to the ACC All-Academic Team on Friday.
Virginia was one of 146 schools to have both its men’s and women’s team honored by the USTFCCCA, and one of nine schools to have both teams earn All-Academic Team status while reaching the NCAA Championships. A total of 160 men’s teams and 217 women’s teams were recognized. To earn All-Academic status, a team must have a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or higher and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship.
“Academic and athletic excellence are expected at UVa,” said Virginia director of track and field and cross country Bryan Fetzer. “We are thrilled to keep up with this tradition. It speaks for the hard work our student-athletes put into both running and academics.”
Virginia was tied for the most selections on the USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team with four. Barbara Strehler (Richmond, Va.) earned the honor for the second time, while Kathleen Stevens (Blacksburg, Va.), Cleo Boyd (Kingston, Ont.) and Sarah Fakler (Phoenix, Ariz.) were recognized for the first time. Thomas Porter (Fredericksburg, Va.) earned USTFCCCA Men’s Cross Country All-Academic honors for the second consecutive year. To be named to the All-Academic squad, a student-athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and earned either All-America status or finished in the top 15 (or top 10 percent) at their NCAA regional championship.
The ACC All-Academic Teams were also announced Friday with the Cavaliers having three women and three men honored. Strehler became a four-time ACC All-Academic Team selection, Stevens was honored for the third time and Vicky Fouhy (Buckinghamshire, England) was selected for the first time to the women’s team. Drew Paisley (Virginia Beach, Va.) became a three-time honoree on the men’s team, while Porter was recognized for the second time and Thomas Madden (Front Royal, Va.) earned his first honor. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during her academic career.