Track and Field Honored by USTFCCCA for Academic Success

NEW ORLEANS, La. – With the 2010 track and field seasons in the books, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) awarded both of the Northern Arizona men's and women's track and field squads as Division I All-Academic teams. A total of 153 women's and 73 men's squads were awarded by the USTFCCCA.

The men's team ended the season with a 3.16 cumulative GPA, and the women's squad recorded a 3.10 GPA.

Aside from both teams being honored for its hard work in the classroom, six Lumberjacks, including Ben Ashkettle, Kortnee Burton, Arshiya Hoseyni, David McNeill, Andres Rossini and Lauren Stuart were named to the NCAA Division I All-Academic Track & Field team

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships (including preliminary rounds) in their respective event.

On top of being named to the All-Academic team, McNeill was awarded the Division I Scholar Athlete of the Year from both track and field seasons. McNeill was also named the Division I Scholar Athlete of the Year for his stellar cross country campaign in 2009.

McNeill, a native of Melbourne, Australia, won NCAA titles in the 5000 meters at both the indoor and outdoor national championships this year, becoming only the sixth in NCAA history to do so. McNeill, who tallied a 3.78 cumulative GPA in exercise science, was also named by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) as the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® of the Year for their University division of men's track and field/cross country.

McNeill and the rest of his teammates begin the 2010 cross country season on Sept. 4, as they host the George Kyte Classic at Buffalo Park.