Women's Cross Country | 2/7/2020 3:08:00 PM

USTFCCCA Academic Honors

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Bloomsburg University men's and women's cross country teams have been honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as 2019 Division II All-Academic Teams for their success in the classroom. Additionally, five members – redshirt junior Zach Bitner (Mount Holly Springs, Pa./Boiling Springs) of the men's team, and junior Autumn Avery (Hughesville, Pa./Hughesville), sophomore Kathryn Blair (Elma, N.Y./Iroquois), and freshmen Nicole Keeley (Northumberland, Pa./Shikellamy) and Sydney Koons (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) of the women's team – were honored individually with All-Academic honors from the USTFCCA.
 
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period and compile a team score at their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers. The men's team earned a 3.44 GPA and finished 13^th at the Atlantic Regional Championships while the women posted a GPA of 3.58 and finished sixth at the regional.
 
Overall, there were 120 men's teams and 148 women's teams that received All-Academic honors in NCAA Division II.
 
Individually, the All-Academic honor was awarded to those student-athletes who have compiled a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finished among the top 30 percent at his regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championships.
 
Bitner finished 40^th overall with a time of 32:58.8 at the Atlantic Regional for his best collegiate finish in the event. It capped off a triumphant return to the lineup after missing all of last season due to an injury.
 
Blair and Avery were the top two runners for the Huskies at the Atlantic Regional with Blair placing 26th overall with a time of 22:39.7 and Avery right behind after completing the 6K event in 27th with a time of 22:41.4. The duo narrowly missed All-Region accolades as Blair was three-and-a-half seconds off of the 25th - and final - spot for regional honors while Avery was five seconds behind.
 
Koons and Keeley capped off a sensational rookie campaign with top-70 finishes in their first regional championship. Koons was 38th overall with a time of 22:52.5 with Keeley placing 53rd with a time of 23:17.7. Prior to the regional, Keeley earned her first All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference honor after finished 19^th overall with a time of 23:23.3 in the PSAC championship meet.
 
Overall, there were 403 women and 263 men who were named All-Academic Individuals in NCAA Division II.

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