March 8, 2010

New Orleans, La. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Monday that the Fordham University men's and women's cross country teams earned All-Academic Team honors for the 2009 season. The men, with a team GPA of 3.39, are just one of five Atlantic 10 squads to receive the academic honor while the Fordham women, who boast a 3.21 team GPA, are one of six A-10 women's teams on the list.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Championship and also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative GPA.

The Rams were led by graduate students Clifton Hilario and Brigid Moriarty who were recognized for their athletic and academic accomplishments by being named to the 2009 Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference Team for men's and women's cross country, respectively, in November.

The Cowboys of Oklahoma State University are the 2009 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Men's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. The Scholar Team of the Year distinction goes to the program that earned All-Academic Team honors and placed the highest among the field at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

In November, Oklahoma State won their first NCAA Cross Country national title since 1954 with a 127-143 victory over runner-up Oregon. The Cowboys also won the NCAA Midwest Region title in the fall, the fifth-straight for the program. OSU also earned top honors at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships for the second-consecutive season. In addition, the squad members carried a 3.06 cumulative grade point average after the fall 2009 semester.

Vanderbilt and Creighton led the full slate of All-Academic Team honorees with a cumulative team GPA of 3.67. A record total of 135 Division I men's programs received USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, up from 2008's total of 110.

Four of the top five and seven of the top 10 teams at the NCAA Cross Country Championships earned the honor. In addition, regional champions from all eight of the nine NCAA regions claimed All-Academic honors.

The ACC and SEC topped all other conferences with eight intuitions earning the academic plaudit. Six other conferences had seven members mentioned.

On the women's side, Villanova University's is the 2009 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year.

Villanova won its eighth NCAA Women's Cross Country title in November, defeating runner-up Florida State 86-133. Head Coach Gina Procaccio's Wildcats also claimed the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region title and Big East crown in 2009. In addition, the squad members carried a 3.38 cumulative grade point average after the fall 2009 semester.

Alabama leads All-Academic Team honorees with a cumulative team GPA of 3.86. Missouri State is next on the list at a 3.81 GPA. A record total of 176 Division I women's programs received USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors, up from 2008's total of 162.

Nine of the top 10 and 18 of the top 20 teams at the NCAA Cross Country Championships earned the honor. In addition, regional champions from all nine NCAA regions claimed All-Academic honors.

The Big East led all conferences with 13 squads mentioned as All-Academic recipients.

The SEC and Big Ten each scored 10 teams on the honor roll.

To see the entire list of men's and women's cross country teams recognized, click here.