NEW ORLEANS – The Anderson University men's and women's cross country teams, along with individual members of each squad have earned All-Academic honors from United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as announced recently by the organization.

With seven runners from the men's team and five from the men's squad capturing individual accolades, the two teams helped propel AU student-athletes' overall GPA to the department's highest GPA in school history last semester. The 12 combined Trojan honorees equaled Colorado School of Mines' 12 award winners for the highest tally in the nation.

Overall, there were 403 women and 263 men who were named All-Academic Individuals in NCAA Division II.

Stephanie Cotter of Adams State was named the Women's Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country season. Cotter, a sophomore with a 3.42 GPA in exercise science, won the individual crown at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, California this past November. Cotter also shattered the NCAA Championship meet record in 19:15.16 to become the only athlete in Division II history to break the 20-second barrier at the national meet.

Taylor Stack of Western Colorado was named the Men's Scholar Athlete of the Year. Stack, a junior with a 3.79 GPA in biology/chemistry, placed third individually at the 2019 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.

MEN
Matthew Burgess
Ty Gleason
Noah Mclain
Philip Quillen
Daniel Similton

WOMEN
Hannah Beach
Olivia Evans
Kelsey Horner
Olivia Rish
Melea Sangl
Aubrey Stoddard
Rebecca Ward