BOWLING GREEN, Ky. Both the Hilltopper and Lady Topper cross country programs were recognized as All-Academic teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday while junior Katie Lever was named individually to the All-Academic Women's Team.
To earn All-Academic distinction as a team, the program must hold a team cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Lady Toppers sported a 3.45 cumulative GPA while the Hilltoppers weren't far behind with an impressive 3.39 team mark. WKU has now had both programs garner USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in the same year on four occasions, joining the 2006, 2007 and 2011 cross country squads in the accomplishment.
The Hilltoppers' 3.39 GPA was the highest in Conference USA, beating out second-place Florida Atlantic at 3.24. The Lady Toppers' 3.45 GPA trailed Rice (3.68) and Marshall (3.51) but WKU was the only C-USA program to have both the men's and women's team post a GPA of 3.25 or higher. Overall, 179 Division I men's programs captured All-Academic status while 226 women's programs accomplished the feat.
Lever, who boasts a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA as a communication studies major, was one of four females to earn USTFCCCA All-Academic distinction from Conference USA and one of 153 female individuals honored overall. To qualify for All-Academic honors individually, an individual must hold at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and must have either been an All-American at the NCAA Championships or finished in the Top 15 overall or Top 10 percent at regionals. Lever captured 21st at the NCAA Southeast Regional in a field of 257 runners.
Lever, a 2014 First Team All-Conference USA performer on the course and in the classroom, was also named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team following her 2014 outdoor season.
To keep up with the teams and for more information, follow the program on Twitter at @WKUTrackField.
