March 6, 2010

NEW ORLEANS - For the 16th consecutive season, the Miami University women's cross country team has achieved All-Academic Team status for 2009 from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, the organization announced Friday evening (March 5). The RedHawks have earned the honor each year it has been awarded, starting in 1994.

Miami compiled a cumulative team grade-point average of 3.28, as it was one of 176 Division I schools recognized by the USTFCCCA for academic achievement, including nine MAC schools. To earn All-Academic Team status, a team must have competed at an NCAA Regional Championship and earned a minimum team cumulative GPA of 3.00.

Thirteen of the 15 members of the 2009 Miami cross country team have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, while three earned Academic All-MAC honors in 2009 - senior Amanda Mirochna (Naperville, Ill.), senior Kelsey McHugh (Columbus, Ohio) and junior Katie Lenahan (Cincinnati, Ohio).

The RedHawks not only performed well in the classroom, but also performed well on the course, as Miami won the 2009 MAC Championship on Oct. 31 in head coach Kelly Phillips' first year at the helm. Six RedHawks earned All-MAC honors, including Mirochna and fellow senior Laura Neufarth (Centerville, Ohio), who were named to the First Team.

--MURedHawks.com--