University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's CC Team Earns Academic Honors
3/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
The Minnesota women’s cross country team celebrated great athletic success last fall. This Golden Gopher squad, the largest in the nation, has now collected academic accolades to match. Minnesota compiled a team grade point average of 3.51 to earn U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honors.
The Golden Gophers led the nation with five athletes Heather Dorniden, Megan Duwell, Amy Laskowske, Felicitias Mensing and Mallory Van Ness named to the USTFCCCA Women’s All-Academic Team.
“Our women are rock stars on the cross country and in the classroom,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “It’s amazing how year in and year out, the young women in this program create an atmosphere that fosters such success athletically and academically. I’m very proud on them all.”
Minnesota has won back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles and is one of just three teams in the nation to finish in the top 12 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships the past four years.
All 11 Big Ten teams were named as USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, sharing the honors with the Big East Conference for the most teams included. Over 45 percent of NCAA Division I programs, including 14 of the top 20 finishers at the 2008 Championships, earned the award.
A total of 77 NCAA Division I student-athletes received USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic honors. The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and finish in the top 15 finishers (or 10 percent) of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet or earn All-America accord at the NCAA Championships.
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 grade point average.
The Golden Gophers led the nation with five athletes Heather Dorniden, Megan Duwell, Amy Laskowske, Felicitias Mensing and Mallory Van Ness named to the USTFCCCA Women’s All-Academic Team.
“Our women are rock stars on the cross country and in the classroom,” said Golden Gopher head coach Gary Wilson. “It’s amazing how year in and year out, the young women in this program create an atmosphere that fosters such success athletically and academically. I’m very proud on them all.”
Minnesota has won back-to-back Big Ten Conference titles and is one of just three teams in the nation to finish in the top 12 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships the past four years.
All 11 Big Ten teams were named as USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams, sharing the honors with the Big East Conference for the most teams included. Over 45 percent of NCAA Division I programs, including 14 of the top 20 finishers at the 2008 Championships, earned the award.
A total of 77 NCAA Division I student-athletes received USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic honors. The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and finish in the top 15 finishers (or 10 percent) of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet or earn All-America accord at the NCAA Championships.
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 grade point average.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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