WILMINGTON, N.C. ? The UNC Wilmington men's and women's cross country teams have been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as All-Academic Teams.
The Seahawk women collected the award for the sixth year in a row, while the men picked up the honor for the first time since 1996. To be eligible, teams must post a cumulative 3.00 grade point average and compile a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet.
“We're very pleased to continue this great tradition with our teams,” said Jim Sprecher, UNCW's cross country coach. “It takes the same type of traits to be successful, both in running and in the classroom. You must be able to study and prepare on your own. There's definitely a correlation between the two.
“It's especially gratifying to have the men make the list. To rank as high as they did is quite an accomplishment for them.”
With a 3.400 GPA, the UNCW men ranked 17th among NCAA Division I institutions, first among the four Colonial Athletic Association schools recognized, and first among seven North Carolina schools on the list. Overall, a record 110 NCAA Division I men's programs received the honor, representing 35 percent of all schools that sponsor the sport.
The UNCW women, meanwhile, posted a combined 3.290 GPA, ranking fourth in the CAA and seventh out of 11 schools honored in North Carolina.
