Women’s Cross Country Program Honored Again For Academic Achievement

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) has recognized the UW-Oshkosh women's cross country program for its performance in the classroom for the second consecutive year.

Head coach Eamon McKenna's squad was one of 216 NCAA Division III programs to end the 2016 fall semester with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.10 or better. UW-Oshkosh ended the fall session with a 3.11 GPA while Greenville College (Ill.) compiled a 3.84 mark for the nation's highest GPA.

Other WIAC programs honored were UW-La Crosse (3.60), UW-Platteville (3.51), UW-Stout (3.48), UW-Eau Claire (3.43) and UW-Stevens Point (3.37).

National champion Johns Hopkins University (Md.) registered a 3.28 GPA and was named the USTFCCA's Scholar Team of the Year for the fourth time in five seasons.

For a team to be considered for the Scholar Team of the Year, it must have competed and compiled a team score at their respective NCAA regional. The team must also have a minimum team GPA of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale.

UW-Oshkosh also had freshman Ashton Keene and juniors Kristen Linzmeier, Cheyenne Moore and Erica Munyan named to the organization's All-Academic Team. All four individuals helped the Titans finish second at the WIAC Championship on Oct. 29 in Stevens Point, seventh at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional on Nov. 12 in Winneconne and 16th at the NCAA Division III Championship on Nov. 19 in Louisville, Ky.

Keene, who owns a 3.92 cumulative GPA as a biology major, finished 26th at the WIAC Championship, 48th at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional and 174th at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Linzmeier, who was selected to the All-Academic Team for the second straight year, placed sixth at the WIAC Championship, 13th at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional and 102nd at the NCAA Division III Championship. She owns a 3.79 cumulative GPA as a major in kinesiology.

Moore, who holds a 3.80 cumulative GPA as a nursing major, ranked first at the WIAC Championship, fourth at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional and 45th at the NCAA Division III Championship.

Munyan, who was chosen to the All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season, finished eighth at the WIAC Championship, 15th at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional and 105th at the NCAA Division III Championship. She possesses a 3.41 cumulative GPA as a major in kinesiology.

In order to be eligible for All-Academic recognition, honorees must have a cumulative grade point average of least 3.30 and finish in the top 25 percent of the finishers at their respective regional. A total of 374 NCAA Division III student-athletes were honored by the USTFCCCA, including 23 from the WIAC.

The USTFCCCA chose Amy Regan of Stevens Institute of Technology (N.J.) as its Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2016 USTFCCCA All-Academic Individual Awards • NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country

2016 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Awards • NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country