Feb. 21, 2012

The Montana women's and men's cross country teams were both named USTFCCCA All-Academic the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced recently. It was the third straight year both programs were recognized.

To be eligible for nomination, teams must have competed at last November's NCAA regionals and had a 3.0 cumulative grade point average through the fall semester.

Among the 205 NCAA Division I women's teams named All-Academic, the Griz women's squad and its 3.68 cumulative GPA ranked seventh behind only Alabama (3.83), Southern Mississippi (3.80), Missouri State (3.75), Robert Morris (3.75), Tennessee (3.73) and Weber State (3.72).

Eight of the team's nine athletes who competed in the fall were named Academic All-Big Sky Conference. The team posted a department-record 3.81 GPA for the fall semester.

Georgetown was named the USTFCCCA Women's Scholar-Team of the Year. The Hoyas won the NCAA championship last November and have a team GPA of 3.28.

The Montana men's team, which has a 3.11 cumulative GPA, was one of 147 teams recognized by the USTFCCCA. The Grizzlies had five of their nine athletes who competed in the fall earn Academic All-Big Sky Conference honors.

Wisconsin, which has a 3.08 GPA, was named the USTFCCCA Men's Scholar-Team of the Year. The Badgers joined Georgetown in winning last fall's NCAA titles.

Montana was one of five Big Sky Conference teams to have both their women's and men's programs recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic. Idaho State, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Weber State also pulled off the double.