Feb. 13, 2012

NEW ORLEANS, La. - The Ladyjack cross country team was recently recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association to have earned 2011 Division I All-Academic Cross Country Status. SFA ranks atop the Southland Conference with a 3.6 combined team GPA. The academic mark also puts the team in third in the South Central Region and tied for 16th in the nation.

SFA is one of 205 institutions, across 30 conferences, to be recognized by the USTFACCCA as one of the top academic teams in the country. Georgetown topped them all, being named the NCAA Women's Scholar Team of the Year for the 2011 cross country season. Scholar teams of the year were determined from among those who earned all-Academic status and placed highest as a team at the most recent NCAA Championships. Other Southland schools include Lamar, McNeese, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Texas-San Antonio.

The Ladyjacks saw standout seasons from both Lauren Smith and Randi Plentl in 2011. Smith became the first Ladyjack since the 2005 to claim the Southland Conference individual crown at the 2011 Southland Conference Cross Country Championships at Piney Woods Country Club. Plentl was recognized by league officials as the 2011 Southland Conference Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year. Both Smith and Plentl were earned all-SLC recognition, with Smith being named the SLC women's athlete of the year.

-SFA-