Feb. 29, 2008

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University men's and women's cross country teams were recognized for its high academic standing, each being named a United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Cross Country All-Academic Team. The women finished the fall semester with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.38, while the men possessed a 3.00 team GPA.

In addition to the team accolades, two Michigan State women's cross country student-athletes - redshirt junior Lisa Senakiewich and junior Sarah Price - were named to the USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic Team. Both earned All-Great Lakes Region honors, placing among the top-15 in the field (Senakiewich-10th, Price-15th). Senakiewich was also a second team All-Big Ten selection, after placing 12th at the conference championship. Off the course, the duo was among eight Spartans who were All-Academic Big Ten.

"It's important that we strive for this every year," MSU Director of Track & Field Walt Drenth said. "I think it's important for the program to consistently be in this category. It shows that the student-athletes are doing the right thing. They are not only pursuing their athleticism at a high level, but also their academics. That's something that we stand for as a program and something that we will continue to ask of them."

In all, 158 Division I women's programs and 98 men's teams received the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honor, with nine women's teams and six men's squads coming from the Big Ten Conference. The Iona College men and the Stanford women were named the All-Academic Cross Country Teams of the Year.

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 Meet and also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average.

The individual honors requires the student-athlete to carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and have completed a minimum 24 semester hours through the 2007 fall term. Additionally, the student-athlete must finish in the top 15 runners or top ten percent of finishers at their respective NCAA regional meet, or receive All-American honors.