Feb. 9, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. – For the 16th-straight year, South Carolina’s cross country team earned All-Academic Team Award status from the US Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association, the group released Thursday.

This year, the Gamecocks posted a 3.70 cumulative team GPA among all the individuals who ran during the 2016 season, which stood 16th in the country. It’s the 11th top-20 finish for South Carolina in the streak that began in 2005.

“I recognize how high a standard this program has set over the past dozen years and, in particular, how high a standard this senior class has set in the past four years,” remarked Andrew Allden, the Gamecocks’ coach of distance and cross country, “This class never finished outside of the top 16 teams academically in the nation, which is an incredible standard. On top of that, the fact that 11 of the 28 women we have on the roster are in the honors college and are pursuing the most rigorous academic programs this university has to offer like pharmacy and international business, all of that comes into play when I look at how tough it is to get to a 3.70 GPA. I’m very proud of this year’s performance in the classroom and the streak of top-16 finishes this senior class has.”

South Carolina’s cross country team placed all 15 of its eligible students on the SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, which was announced yesterday. Members of the roster continue their indoor track season this weekend in the Tiger Paw Invitational, hosted by Clemson.