SEWARD, Neb. – Both Concordia University cross country programs were among the teams honored on Thursday (Jan. 30) by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association with status as All-Academic Teams. Head coach Matt Beisel’s women’s cross country squad ranks in the top 10 of the NAIA with a cumulative grade-point average of 3.65 while the men have turned in a cumulative GPA of 3.49, good for fourth best in the nation. In addition, all seven Bulldog women who competed at nationals garnered All-Academic Individual honors.
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, among other qualifiers. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and qualify for the national championship meet.
It’s been quite an academic year for the Concordia women, who won the GPAC title this past fall and placed 12th at the NAIA National Championships. The Bulldogs honored by the USTFCCCA were Sydney Clark, Lydia Cook, Abi DeLoach, Alyssa Fye, Kylahn Heritage, Rebekah Hinrichs and Amie Martin. The complete USTFCCCA list of All-Academic Individuals can be viewed HERE.
Beisel earned GPAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year honors in 2019. All-conference accolades were earned by Heritage (second), Fye (fourth), Hinrichs (fifth) and Clark (12th). On the men’s side, Wyatt Lehr picked up All-GPAC accolades by finishing 15th.