NEW ORLEANS, La. -- A phenomenal year on the course for the Augustana men's and women's cross country teams has been capped off with eight student-athletes earning the nations highest academic honor. Six Viking women and a pair of men were recently named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic team.

In order to qualify for this honor, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative grade points average of at least 3.25 and finished among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championship meet. Earlier this year, 20 cross country student-athletes earned academic All-NSIC Honors

USTFCCCA All-Academic Team

Women    
Name                            Year        Major                                                               GPA
Claire Boersma             So.          Secondary Education, English                         4.0
Rebekah Rairdon          Jr.           Business Administration, Accounting               3.96
Cait Savey                     Fr.           Mathematics, Secondary Education                3.69
Mackenzie Kelly            Sr.           Elementary Education, Special Education       3.52
Nicolette Schmidt          Rs. Fr      Elementary Education                                      3.47
Emily Tromp                  Jr.            Communication Studies                                   3.33

All six student-athletes ended their season at the DII national championships, where Schmidt was the top team-finisher, crossing the line in 24:09.2 for 75th place. Savey (24:28.2, 107th), tromp (24:46, 135th),  Rairdon (24:47, 107th), Boersma (25:02.9, 152nd) and Kelly (25.35.1, 189th) rounded out the top finishers for the Viking Women.

Overall, the Augustana women finished with a team GPA of 3.72, which is 7th best in the nation for NCAA DII. 

Men
Name                            Year        Major                                                                 GPA
Matt Steiger                   Fr.           Undecided                                                         3.82
Nathan Schroeder         Rs-Jr.      Accounting, Business Administration                3.46

During the NCAA championships, Schroeder finished 74th in the nation with a time of 34:11.2. Steiger, a freshman, ended his first season with a 84th place finish in 34:21.8.

About the USTFCCCA
The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based professional association representing men's and women's cross country and track & field coaches in the United States. The organization has about 8,000 members. 94% of NCAA track & field programs are members of USTFCCCA.