UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND, Va. - For the 10th-consecutive season, the University of Richmond men's and women's track & field squads have been selected as NCAA Division I All-Academic Teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Graduated senior Meaghan McGovern was also named to the team as an individual for the second-straight year.
"This is a remarkable accomplishment by our teams and one that Lori and I are extremely proud of," said head men's coach Steve Taylor. "Each year we place this achievement on our list of team goals and our student-athletes work diligently to reach it. As a staff, we expect them to work hard and challenge themselves in the classroom, while also expecting them to balance their academic career with their athletic career in order to achieve at the highest level of success in both. Their achievements show how our programs are a perfect match for our university and the academic standards and expectations our faculty and staff have set for our student-athletes."
The Spider men join fellow Atlantic 10 Conference member La Salle on the list of programs earning the USTFCCCA's distinction as a result of a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better. On the women's side, Richmond and seven other conference squads in Charlotte, Dayton, La Salle, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Saint Joseph's and Temple received academic team honors from the organization.
"Ten years on this list represents a remarkable accomplishment for our programs," added Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Lori Taylor. "These athletes and the alumni before them have worked extremely hard to establish a high academic standard that represents the standards and expectations set forth by Steve and me for our teams. A decade of receiving this honor demonstrates that our student-athletes understand balance. As coaches, we are educators first and understand that our student-athletes are here for their degree programs. The University of Richmond is a tremendous institution and our student-athletes choose to come here because they know they will have opportunities for the ultimate educational and athletic experience."
Stay updated on all the latest Richmond Track & Field and Cross Country news on RichmondSpiders.com and by accessing Spider Athletics' mobile apps on your Smartphone or tablet. More in-depth coverage can be found by following Head Coach Steve Taylor on Twitter and by reading his blog. The Spiders also have their own Facebook page and have launched their own YouTube Channel as well.
