NEW ORLEANS, LA. – All-Academic honorees for the 2018 NCAA Division II cross country season were recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in mid-February for their academic excellence during the fall season. The Trojans of the University of Mount Olive earned both the overall team GPA award as well as having a few individuals earned Academic All-Region honors.
For a team to earn the All-Academic team award, programs must have had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and scored at an NCAA Division II regional meet during the season. Overall there were 427 teams – 231 women's teams and 196 men's teams – that earned All-Academic honors.
There were 649 student-athletes who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors with the women accounting for 58.4 percent of the total (379). Individually in order to qualify for this honor, student-athletes must have compiled a cumulative grade points average of at least 3.25 and finished among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championship meet.
Both the men and women's cross country teams earned the All-Academic team award with the women recording a 3.66 team GPA while the men held a 3.26 for the Fall semester. In addition, three men were named All-Academic individuals in Jay Hall, Tai Smith, and Jacob Willis, with four women earning the honors in Shona Blades, Leah Hanle, Celine Ritter, and Elise Tanner.
See all of the Conference Carolinas honorees here: Full All-Academic Teams | Full All-Academic Individuals