MSU Cross Country Teams Excel In Classroom, Too
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Not
only did Mississippi
State ’s cross country
teams excel on the track, they excelled in the classroom. Both the men and
women earned 2010 Division I All-Academic Cross Country status according to an
announcement this week by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches
Association (USTFCCA).
In order to qualify for this prestigious honor, a team must hold a cumulative
GPA of 3.00 or better and start at least five runners at the NCAA regional
championships.
The Lady Bulldogs surpassed the minimum GPA qualification, achieving a 3.56 GPA last season to earn their All-Academic status and the 31st spot in national academic rankings. The Bulldog men studied their way to All-Academic honors, a number 12 academic ranking and a cumulative team GPA of 3.48.
“I am very proud of the academic effort of our teams,” head coach Houston Franks said. “I feel their commitment to be the best they can be athletically carries over to the classroom, and it is that effort and determination that leads to their success.”
In an earlier announcement, sophomore standouts and All-SEC, All-Region duo of Haley Greenwell and Renee Masterson were named to the USTFCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team.
Greenwell, a secondary education English major, earned a 3.93 GPA, while Masterson, a biological sciences major, earned a 3.92.
“Haley and Renee are an example for all athletes in that not only are they great athletically, but they translate that talent to the classroom,” Franks said. “For as good as they are on the track, they are as good if not better in the classroom.”
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, a 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 2010.