Feb. 27, 2008

BEAUMONT - As icing on the cake for their outstanding seasons, the Lamar University women's and men's cross country teams were named to the 2007 Division I U.S. Track And Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Men's and Women's All-Academic Teams.

"This is a great honor for our program and for Lamar University," head coach Trey Clark said. "Our athletes put in a lot of hard work in training and competition and have also excelled in the classroom. They represent the true meaning of a student-athlete."

Led by USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic Team members Clerc Koenck and Samuel Kosgei, the Lamar University women's and men's teams rank among the nations elite in academics. There are 325 schools that sponsor women's Division I cross country, and 158 (49 percent) are represented, while 299 schools sponsor men's Division I cross country and only 99 (33 percent) are represented.

"We are very proud of our student-athletes," Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Affairs Helene Thill said. "They continue to work hard both in athletics and academics and through a lot of hard work and time management, they excel in both."

The Cardinals men's team is the only team from the Southland Conference to earn the honor, while Lamar, Stephen F. Austin and the University of Central Arkansas represent the SLC on the women's side.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative grade point average.