Feb. 27, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina cross country team has earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors for the 12th straight year after posting a team GPA of 3.743 in the fall, which ranks second in the nation.

The Gamecocks’ GPA was only lower than Southern Miss’ 3.79. South Carolina has been among the nation’s top academic teams during head coach Stan Rosenthal’s career. Rosenthal’s teams were also Top 20 academic programs in 2005 (No. 18), 2006 (No. 14), 2007 (No. 6), 2008 (No. 1), 2009 (No. 11) and 2010 (No. 13).

“I am very proud of all of the women who not only have trained hard to make the cross country season one of the most successful at South Carolina in along time, but they also exemplify the term student-athletes,” Rosenthal said.

On top of the team recognition, freshman Kayla Lampe was one of 115 student-athletes to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic status. A native of Downingtown, Pa., Lampe turned in one of the most successful freshman seasons in school history. She earned USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region honors after finishing eighth at the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships, which is the highest finish ever by a Gamecock freshman at the event. She also received second team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors after racing to a 13th-place finish at the SEC Championships.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic status, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have either earned USTFCCCA All-America status or finished in the NCAA region’s top 15 (or top 10 percent) in 2012.

“Our cross country team has once again elevated the standard that our department has set for all of our students to be the best at athletics and academics,” South Carolina track and field head coach Curtis Frye said. “I am proud that our GPA puts our team at such an elite level. The best in our state, the best in our conference and the second best in the NCAA Division I. This is an outstanding achievement. Thanks to our academic staff and Stan Rosenthal and our cross country team and staff.”