GVSU, Johnson C. Smith Named Women’s Scholar Teams of the Year for Division II Among All-Academic Teams

NEW ORLEANS – The Grand Valley State and Johnson C. Smith women’s track & field programs have earned Scholar Team of the Year honors for the 2013 Division II indoor and outdoor seasons, respectively, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Wednesday.

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Both programs squads stood out among 92 women’s teams that combined academic and athletic achievement to earn All-Academic Team honors this season. The squads earned the distinction as a result of being the highest-placing teams with at least a 3.00-cumulative GPA at the most recent NCAA indoor and outdoor championship. The full list of All-Academic Team honorees can be found below.

Though the Lakers of Grand Valley State — who have maintained a 3.19 cumulative team grade point average — were unable to capture a third-straight NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships team title, they were successful in defending their indoor Scholar Team of the Year award for a third consecutive season. Their current three-year streak gives them the most indoor Scholar Team of the Year honors since the award was first given out in 2007. Lincoln (Mo.) has earned the title twice.

GVSU finished fourth at the indoor championships with 41 team points, including two wins in the shot put — in meet-record fashion — and the weight throw from Sam Lockhart.

Johnson C. Smith is the outdoor Scholar Team of the Year after the Golden Bulls earned an impressive 3.569 cumulative team GPA — the fifth-highest of any Division II women’s program in the country — en route to finishing runner-up at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. With 54 team points, just six fewer than national champion Academy of Art, JCS posted its highest-ever finish at the outdoor championships behind four event championships — including two from outdoor track Scholar Athlete of the Year Danielle Williams at 100 and 200 meters.

This marks the first time the Golden Bull women have earned Scholar Team of the Year honors in program history.

Missouri S&T Posts Top Team GPA Among 92 All-Academic Teams

The USTFCCCA also announced Tuesday the 2013 Division II All-Academic Track & Field teams. A total of 92 institutions earned the distinction as a result of earning a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or higher.

Missouri S&T took the top spot among Division II women’s programs with a cumulative team GPA of 3.66. Edinboro was second at 3.612 and Maryville (Mo.) third at 3.581.

Three conferences were represented by double-digit teams with All-Academic Team honors: the GLIAC with 12, the PSAC with 11 and the NSIC with 10.