Women's Cross Country Earns Academic Accolades

The Central Connecticut State University women's cross country team was honored for their academic achievements as an NCAA All-Academic Team for the third straight year, announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average.

Of the 338 Division I schools that sponsor women's cross country, Central recorded the 59th highest team GPA with a mark of 3.45. Of the 176 total teams honored, three came out of the Northeast Conference. Along with CCSU, Sacred Heart, Quinnipiac and Monmouth received the honors. The Blue Devils tied SHU for the top GPA out of the four.

The University of Alabama- Tuscaloosa led all schools with a team GPA of 3.86. Villanova University, the 2009 NCAA Champion, was named the Scholar Team of the Year for their performance on and off the course this season.

CCSU was led by junior Katherine Bossardet this season. She earned All-Northeast Conference accolades for the second straight year, finishing 12th at the league meet in 2009. Bossardet is also a leader in the classroom as she one of only 32 women's cross country participants to receive NEC Commissioner's Honor Roll honors last season. The Commissioner's Honor Roll Recipients accumulate a GPA of 3.75 or higher.