March 9, 2009

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky men’s and women’s cross country teams were recognized as national All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as announced from its home office in New Orleans.

Just over a third (35%) of Division I schools sponsoring cross country programs earned the academic distinction on the men’s side while just under half of the women’s squads (47%) garnered the honor. Eligibility for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award requires a squad to compete and compile a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average (GPA).

Last week, Wildcats Jenna Ortman and Jessica Ortman were recognized with All-Academic honors as individuals. The pair led Kentucky to a bid at the NCAA National Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., last fall after earning All-Region honors at the Southeast Regional. Kentucky’s women’s squad is one of nine Southeastern Conference schools honored. The Cats’ cumulative GPA came in at 3.38.

UK sophomore Adam Henken finished fifth overall to qualify for the Championships as an individual on the men’s side and earn All-Region honors. Henken helped lead the UK men to a team finish of 13th overall at the Southeast regional. The Cats rank second among the six SEC men’s squads on the USTFCCCA list with a 3.28 cumulative GPA.

Kentucky is one of only six SEC schools to have both cross country teams honored.

“As a cross country team, we strive to create an atmosphere of dedication, discipline, and hard work,” said assistant coach for distance and cross country John Mortimer. “Those attributes also manifest themselves in our student-athletes’ academic lives. I am just as proud of our team’s accomplishments in the classroom as I am of their accomplishments on the cross country course.”

Click UKathletics.com for all of the latest UK cross country news.