3/8/2010 - WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY Beavers named USTFCCCA All-Academic Team

Print Email RSS Share

NEW ORLEANS -- With a team grade point average of 3.52, the Bemidji State University women’s cross country squad was named a 2009 NCAA Division II USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team, announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Beaver student-athletes contributing to the award were: Kristi Buerkle (Jr., Stacy, Minn.), Kendra Cobb (Fr., Nashwauk-Keewatin, Minn.), Kelli Christiansen (Fr., Bemidji, Minn.), Sherisa Dickerson (Fr., Williston, N.D.), Jessica Hanenburg (Fr., Milaca, Minn.), Alison Hougen (So., Bemidji, Minn.), Genna Ironi (Sr., Sauk Centre, Minn.), Tina Larson (Fr., Morris, Minn.), Kirsten Maras (So., Anoka, Minn.), Annika Nelson (Fr., Eden Prairie, Minn.), Michelle Ohman (Fr., Prior Lake, Minn.), Cierra Robinson (Fr., Forest Lake, Minn.), Shelly Saksa (Jr., Dassel, Minn.), Kayla Stursa (Fr., Park Rapids, Minn.) and Pearl Walker (So., Bemidji, Minn.).

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Championship and also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative GPA.

Adams State College was named the 2009 NCAA Division II USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country Scholar Team of the Year. The Scholar Team of the Year distinction goes to the program that earned All-Academic Team honors and placed the highest among the field at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Truman State surpassed all Division II teams with a 3.78 cumulative GPA. Seattle Pacific finished last year with a 3.72 GPA. All five of the top five and seven of the top 10 team finishers from the NCAA Cross Country Championships earned the honor. In addition, regional champions from all eight NCAA regions claimed All-Academic honors. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference led all conferences with 13 teams placed on the All-Academic roll. Three conferences claimed eight teams in the mix.

Seven other teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference were also named an all-academic team member, in Augustana College, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Minnesota State University, Mankato, Northern State University, University of Mary, Wayne State College and Winona State University.

NSIC USTFCCCA NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Teams, 2009
Team                                                    GPA
Wayne State College                              3.55
Bemidji State University                     3.52
Minnesota State University Moorhead      3.49
Northern State University                       3.43
Winona State University                         3.35
University of Mary                                  3.34
Minnesota State University, Mankato        3.23
Augustana College                                  3.19

Bemidji State University, located in Bemidji, Minn., is an NCAA Division II institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--