Women's Cross Country Named USTFCCCA All-Academic Team
Thursday, March 5, 2009 | Cross Country
The University of Florida's women's cross country team was earned the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCAAA) All-Academic Team honors on Thursday, the organization announced.
The Gators finished second at the NCAA South Regional meet to earn an automatic bid to the 2008 NCAA Championship where they took 17th place. UF also came in second at the Southeastern Conference Championship meet, falling to Arkansas by only seven points. The Gators ended the season ranked 16th in the nation.
As a team, the Florida women posted a 3.510 GPA. Sophomore Ali Crabb (St. Petersburg, Fla.) and senior Jacy Kruzel (Cooper City, Fla.) were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team earlier in the week. This is the third straight year the Gators have earned the academic honor.
For a team to be considered for the award, it must have competed and compiled a team score at the NCAA Regional meet and have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade-point average.
A record total of 160 Division I women's programs received the USTFCCCA's All-Academic Team honors this year compared to 158 schools last season. Over 45 percent of all Division I institutions (394) who sponsor women's cross country received the honor. In addition, seven of the top-10 teams and 14 of the top-20 teams at this year's NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships earned the accolade.
The SEC tallied nine teams on the overall list as South Carolina led the way with the highest overall team grade point average (3.767) in the country.
Washington, the 2008 National Champions, earned the USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year title.
