KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

NEW ORLEANS ? The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has named the Indiana State women's track and field team as one of the top 15 academic teams in the nation among Division I schools, it was announced Wednesday by the association.

The Sycamores had a cumulative team GPA of 3.436 which ranks 13th in the nation. They were one of five Missouri Valley Conference schools named to the USTFCCCA Women's All-Academic Track and Field Team list. Also named were Bradley University (3.445), Drake University (3.390), Illinois State University (3.120) and Missouri State University (3.100).

“I am very privileged to coach such intelligent young women who are very task oriented in their approach to academics,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track and field coach, said. “I am very proud of their place in the Division I rankings and I hope that we can duplicate that selection in 2010.”

The University of Tennessee was named the 2009 Division I Women's Indoor Track and Field Team of the Year while Arizona State University was named the 2009 Division I Women's Outdoor Track and Field Team of the Year. The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga led all institutions with a 3.550 team cumulative GPA followed by Butler University with a 3.547 GPA.

The Big East Conference led all conferences with 10 teams selected as All-Academic Teams for 2009 with the Big 12 Conference a close second with eight teams selected. The Atlantic Coast Conference and Mid-American Conference had seven teams selected as All-America Track and Field Teams.

The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Teams of the Year award is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievements, with the top honor going to the team that had the combination of best overall finish at the respective Division I Indoor or Outdoor National Championships and cumulative GPA. To be honored, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade-point average.