March 27, 2009

Contact: Greg Murphy

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland State cross country team has been honored with a recognition on the 2008 NCAA Division I USTFCCA Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recently made the announcement.

"This is truly a wonderful honor for the cross country program and I am extremely proud of the entire team," head coach Joe Jaketic said. "For our program to be in elite company on the academic side of things is another indication of the drive and the focus of these student-athletes. I think this shows that our student-athletes are indeed students first and I want to thank the USTFCCA for this recognition and congratulate our entire team as well."

CSU sports a 3.526 grade point average, the second highest in the Horizon League behind Valparaiso (3.536).

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, it 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.

A record 162 Division I women's programs received the USTFCCCA's All-Academic Team honors this year compared to 158 schools from last season.

Over 45-percent of all Division I institutions (394) who sponsor women's cross country received the honor. In addition, seven of the top 10 teams and 14 of the top 20 teams at this year's NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams.