NEW ORLEANS – The achievements keep rolling in for the Augustana cross country squads as the USTFCCCA released All-Academic team and individual honors announced on Jan. 27. Both programs were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic teams as well as 11 individuals being selected as All-Academic student-athletes.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.

"The coaching staff is very pleased to hear both squads attainedUSTFCCCA All-Academic honors," director of track & field/cross country Tracy Hellman. "The individual academic awards were also great to see, as this was our biggest group we have had.

"We have always placed a high priority on academics so this recognition was great to see."

The women's team collected five all-academic athletes in Rachel Rairdon (business administration), Rebekah Rairdon (business administration), Mia Salas (exercise science), Nicolette Schmidt (elementary education) and Haylee Waterfall (nursing).

As a team, the women compiled a 3.79 GPA, which stands eighth-best in the nation.

The men's team earned six all-academic athletes selections. Ryan Hartman (exercise science), Evan Johnson (business administration), Henry Klitzke (business administration), Alec Kray (chemistry), Austin Miller (business administration) and Matt Steiger (accounting).

The men's team compiled a team GPA of 3.65, ranking third in all of Division II.

The Augustana cross country team recently finished another very impressive season under Coach Hellman. The women's team placed third at the national meet with four All-Americans while the men finished fourth overall having two All-Americans.

–GoAugie.com–