Skyhawks among 124 teams recognized for academic excellence in Division II
EASTON, Mass. (February 16, 2012) – The Stonehill College women's cross country team has been named to the 2011 U.S Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Cross Country Team List, it was announced earlier this week.
The Skyhawks, who have earned seven-straight USTFCCCA All-Academic Team awards, posted a 3.23 grade point average (GPA) while making their 12th-straight appearance in the NCAA Division II National Championships. Stonehill captured its third-straight NCAA East Regional title along with its third-straight Northeast-10 Conference (NE-10) championship, tenth in program history.
"This season was a great one. We have one of the strongest conferences in the country and to be considered one of the best teams every year should never be taken for granted," said head coach Karen Boen of Stonehill's season in 2011. "The fact that they can stay on top in the rankings and not let the academic piece of the puzzle take a back seat is very commendable."
Along with claiming All-Academic Team honors, three student-athletes on the women's cross country team earned individual USTFCCCA All-Academic accolades last week. Seniors Jill Alves (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson Regional) and Maura Ferrarini (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) were honored by the USTFCCCA along with sophomore Sarah Biggers (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Lakeland).
"When I recruit student athletes, I let them know that they are not coming to Stonehill just to run and that our expectations in the classroom are equally as high, said Boen. "It takes a special type of person to place their academic and athletic life before all other interests and distractions.
Since 2005, the women's cross country team has boasted GPA's of 3.23 and higher with a mark of 3.46 being the highest based upon available data.
To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have compiled a score (finished at least five runners) at their respective NCAA regional championship.
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