Cross Country Teams Earn National Honors

Vicki Mitchell

BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo men's and women's cross country squads were recently named as 2008 Division I Scholar Teams as selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

The UB men compiled a team grade point average of 3.174 while the UB women put together a 3.386 team GPA. Thirty-five percent of all Division I institutions (315) who sponsor men’s cross country received the honor while more than 45 percent of women's cross country Division I institutions (394) received the honor.

A record total of 110 men's and 160 women's programs made the list compared to 98 and 158 teams in 2007. South Carolina's women's team (3.767) and Vanderbilt's men's squad (3.755) had the highest team GPAs. Washington's women and Iona's men were selected as Scholar Teams of the Year based on their performances at the NCAA Cross Country National Championships and other postseason meets.

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 Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average.