ANDERSON, S.C. – For the first time since the award's inception in 2007, the Anderson University men's cross country team has edged the women's cross country squad for top academic honors following the spring semester, as announced by the department on Wednesday morning.
"We are so proud of our men's cross country team for excelling both in the classroom and on the course this fall," said Vice President for Athletics Bert Epting, Jr. "Winning this prestigious award for the first time in school history is a great accomplishment, one in which exemplifies the Trojan way! Great job men and Go Trojans!"
Competition for the academic honor was as fierce as ever, with sixteen teams achieving at least a 3.0 GPA for the semester while continuing to battle through the distractions created by the COVID-19 pandemic, and nearly every team recorded at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA through the fall semester, with nearly two-thirds of AU student-athletes (216) attaining at least a 3.0 GPA for the fall semester, including 72 student-athletes who posted a perfect 4.0 GPA for the term.
The men's cross country team, which posted a stellar 3.729 GPA for the fall semester – including five runners with perfect 4.0 GPA's – captured the honor from the Trojan women's soccer team, which had claimed the accolade in the spring for the second time in four semesters.
"This is a great honor for our men," said Anderson head cross country coach Kevin Eagle. "They have been so close to attaining this award in the past, but have been outpaced by our women's cross country team most years. I am extremely proud of how hard our men worked this past semester not only on the cross country course, but also the classroom."
The Dr. Shirley Jacks Award is given to the team that possesses the highest grade point average at the end of each semester and the men's cross country team will be presented the trophy at an athletic event during the spring.
