NEW ORLEANS – The Slippery Rock University men’s and women’s cross country teams have each earned All-Academic team honors from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Both programs cumulative grade point averages ranked in the top-ten in the nation for the 2008 fall semester.

The Rock men posted the third-highest cumulative GPA in Division II with an average of 3.474. Only the University of Findlay (3.590) and Augustana College (3.518) had higher cumulative marks. Millersville had the second-highest GPA in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference and ranked ninth in the nation at 3.360.

The Rock women recorded the 10th-best cumulative GPA in the nation with an average of 3.601. The only team in the PSAC to finish with a higher GPA was Mansfield, ranking fourth in the nation at 3.670. Seattle Pacific was the nation’s leader at 3.737.

Earlier this week, the USTFCCCA released its individual All-Academic teams. Five members of both the SRU men’s and women’s teams earned the honor, which is only bestowed upon athletes that carry above a 3.25 cumulative GPA and finish in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships or top 50 percent at the NCAA National Championships.

Representing the men’s team were All-Americans Jeff Weiss and Pat Reagan, along with Brian Ulrich, Evan Matthews and Kevin Dustin.

Representing the women’s team were All-Regional performers Jenn Harpp and Laura Mucho, along with Crystal Burnick, Katie Bork and Leslie Kramer.

The USTFCCCA honors NCAA cross country programs that finish the fall semester with cumulative team GPAs of 3.0 or higher.

The PSAC led the nation this season with eight men’s and 11 women’s teams earning All-Academic honors.