NEW ORLEANS – Three Whitworth University cross country student-athletes, and both Pirate teams, were recognized for outstanding academic achievement on Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Isaac Akiyama, Alex Peters and Abby Staley were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.
Akiyama, an engineering major from Olympia, Washington, finished 43rd at the NCAA Division III West Regional meet on November 16th in Estacada, Oregon. Peters, a biophysics major from Post Falls, Idaho, finished in 15th place and earned an individual bid to the NCAA Division III championship meet a week later.
Staley, an education major from Spokane Valley, led the women's team with a 29th place finish at the regional meet.
Both Pirate squads earned All-Academic Team honors. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. Whitworth's women's team had a cumulative GPA of 3.68 while the men's was 3.55.
