WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State University women's cross country team has been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their academic accomplishments in the fall 2016 semester.
This fall, the Worcester State women's cross country team marked a 3.40 overall GPA, earning this accolade for the fifth-consecutive year. In order to be considered for this distinction, the team must have competed and placed at an NCAA Regional meet and also hold a minimum team GPA of a 3.10 on a 4.0 scale.
"The team continued the proud team tradition of high academic achievement coupled with equally high performance levels in training and competition," commented head coach Gary Jusseaume. "Our student-athletes capably apply themselves as effectively in the classroom as they do in pursuit of their team and personal athletic goals. This is a conscious team attitude."
389 teams in the country were named All-Academic teams by the USTFCCA, in which 216 were women's and 173 were men's teams.
Not only was the Worcester State team honored as a team, but sophomore women's cross country runner, Mia Rogers (N. Dighton, Mass.) was honored individually as a USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic recipient.
In order to be named USTFCCA All-Academic, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) and finish in the top-25 percent at their respective regional. Rogers did just that, as she came in 40th of 406 runners in a time of 22:21.12.
"Mia is a superb distance runner," mentioned Jusseaume. "Her abilities are greatly enhanced by a firm dedication to hard work, undaunted perseverance, and a tenacious competitive drive, in practice and competition. She sets and re-sets realistic, yet challenging short and long-range goals as guides for achievement."
"Mia has yet to realize her true competitive level," stated Jusseaume. "Her junior year will mark a key turning point in training. Her physical prowess, coupled with a keen tactical race awareness, will elevate her competitive expertise."
In total, there were 664 athletes (374 women, 290 men) who earned All-Academic mention from the USTFCCCA in NCAA Division III.
USTFCCCA Releases: ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS | ALL-ACADEMIC INDIVUDAL
Portions of this Release Courtesy of USTFCCCA