Five Cross Country Runners Earn USTFCCCA Academic Honors

WELLESLEY, Mass. – Five cross country members were named as 2021 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country All-Academic Athletes and Wellesley earned a spot on the All-Academic Team with a team GPA of 3.71. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers.

Wellesley Recipients and major:

Claire Anderson (Denver, Colo.) - Psychology & Mathematics  

Maya Bradbury (Freeport, Maine) - Political Sciences  

Lily Herold (Athen, Ohio) - Environmental Studies & English  

Ari Marks (Eagle Point, Ore.) - Political Science  

Ellie Murphy-Weise (San Francisco, Calif.) - International Relations - History

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet. Overall, there were 203 women from 105 different institutions who were named All-Academic Athletes for their efforts during the 2021 season.

The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is a non-profit professional organization representing cross country and track & field coaches of all levels. The organization represents thousands of coaching members encompassing NCAA track & field programs (DI, DII, and DIII) and includes members representing the NAIA and NJCAA, as well as a number of state high school coaches associations. The USTFCCCA serves as an advocate for cross country and track & field coaches, providing a leadership structure to assist the needs of a diverse membership, serving as a lobbyist for coaches' interests, and working as a liaison between the various stakeholders in the sports of cross country and track & field.