Central lands women’s cross country team academic award

Central College

PELLA—For the second consecutive year, the Central College women’s cross country squad has received the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Team Academic Award.

To receive the distinction, a team’s cumulative grade point average must be a 3.10 or better (4.0 scale) and the squad must post a score at an NCAA Division III Regional meet. Central compiled a 3.27 mark and finished 12th in the 27-team field at the Central Regional, scoring 349 points.

It’s the fourth time overall the Dutch have captured the academic honor.

Earlier Mel McDermott (junior, Britt, West Hancock HS) received USTFCCCA individual academic recognition. She led the Dutch with a 3.93 GPA with an exercise science major. The Dutch also placed five runners on the academic all-Iowa Conference team last fall, posting marks of 3.5 or higher.