New Orleans, LA --- Senior Christy Deininger (N. Attleboro, MA) along with junior teammates Brittany Hodgerney (Leicester, MA) and Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) have been honored with US Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic certificates for their outstanding efforts on the track and in the classroom.
The accolade for all three mark the third consecutive year that they have been recognized with USTFCCCA Track & Field honors. There were 416 women who were lauded overall from around Division III as they were joined by Naloti Palma (Westboro, MA) and Targie Gervais (Springfield, MA) of Westfield State from the MASCAC.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have a 3.30 cumulative grade point average while also competing at the NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship or finishing the regular season in the top 35 in an individual event or in the top 25 collective relay events on the official NCAA POP listing.
As a team, the women's track and field squad posted a 3.27 cumulative grade point average for the academic year and was one of 158 squads (22 in New England) for the second-straight season. For a squad to earn USTFCCCA Accolades, a team must have over a 3.10 cumulative GPA or higher.
The honor for Deininger is the icing on the cake for the standout short distance hurdler. She graduates majoring in Elementary Education and Psychology while carrying a 3.57 GPA. Over the course of her career she has earned a nod as a Capitol One Co-SIDA All-Academic District I recipient on three occasions and been named to the MASCAC All-Academic team eight times.
Deinigner competed at both the NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Championships during her senior year. She placed 15th individually in the 60 meter hurdles in her only career appearance at the indoor national meet and she claimed fifth overall in the 100 meter hurdles while earning her third berth to the NCAA Outdoor Championships for All-American accolades.
Jasper has shined on the track and in the field events as a standout multi-athlete. She is a two-time Capitol One Co-SIDA All-Academic District I selection and has been recognized on the MASCAC All-Academic team nine times all the while sporting a 3.66 GPA in Nursing.
In addition to qualifying in the javelin throw at the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the third straight season, Jasper put up the seventh-best point total in the heptathlon entering the national meet. She ended the seven-event competition with 4,714 points for eighth place and All-American honors with the second highest heptathlon sum by a WSU student-athlete at the NCAA Outdoors.
Hodgerney has been a six-time MASCAC All-Academic team recipient. She currently has attained a 3.33 GPA in Occupational Therapy as one of the best short-distance sprinters on the club.
During the indoor campaign, Hodgerney ran the anchor leg of the MASCAC Champion 4x200 meter relay and a week later she helped the same relay squad earn All-Division III New England status with eighth place.
This past outdoor season, the Lancers 4x100 meter relay team claimed third overall at the Division III New England Championships while Deininger, Jasper and Hodgerney along with junior Liz Bodensieck (Raynham, MA) put up the 20th fastest time in Division III at the Open New England Championships (47.91).
USTFCCCA Division III Women's Track & Field All-Academic Individuals
USTFCCCA Division III Women's Track & Field Team Awards
Pictured Below: The women's track & field team was officially recognized for their academic and athletic achivements at the halftime of Worcester State's football contest on September 20
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