The Drake University cross country teams added to their tradition of being one of the strongest academic programs in the nation as both the men's and women's teams were named All-Academic teams by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The men's team recorded the fourth-highest grade point average in the nation at 3.67 while the women's team ranked 13th at 3.695 during the fall semester.
The All-Academic team honor is the 17th-straight for the men's program and the ninth in the last 10 years for the women's program.
In addition to ranking fourth among all Division I men's programs, the Bulldogs recorded the highest GPA by a men's team from a private university while the women had the second highest, edging out Harvard and Marquette. Both programs' GPAs were easily the highest in the Missouri Valley Conference.
"Year in and year out, our student-athletes continue to lead the Missouri Valley Conference and be among the national leaders in the classroom," said Drake head coach Dan Hostager. "It is a testament to their commitment to academics and athletics that they compete at such a high level in both venues while often pursuing extremely challenging majors. Every year, they continue to set the standard even higher and every year exceed that level of excellence."
Two Bulldogs, Reed Fischer (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Emma Huston (Des Moines, Iowa) received individual national recognition for their athletic and academic accomplishments by being named USTFCCCA All-Academic.
In order for a student-athlete to qualify for the honor, they must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finished in the top-25 (or 10 percent) at regionals or as an All-American at the national meet. Only three Missouri Valley Conference student-athletes earned the honor with Bradley's Kristen Busch joining Fischer and Huston among the 250 student-athletes to earn the All-Academic designation.
Fischer finished 20th at the NCAA Midwest Regional and owns a 3.76 GPA as an English and public relations major. Huston was 17th at the NCAA Midwest Regional while maintaining a 3.97 GPA as a biology and environmental science major.
