On Thursday, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced their annual Division II Cross Country Academic Awards for 2023. St. Thomas Aquinas College's Zoe Merryman was named an All-Academic Athlete, while both the Men's and Women's Cross Country squads were named recipients of the team honors as a result of their outstanding work on both the race course and in the classroom.

Merryman, an Art Education major, qualified for All-Academic distinction by holding a GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and by finishing in the top-30 percent of the East Regional Championship meet (21st overall) back in November. The freshman runner from Mahwah, N.J. was tabbed as a USTFCCCA All-Region selection, along with the East Coast Conference's Rookie of the Year and a First Team All-Conference member. Additionally, Zoe took home ECC Women's Cross Country Rookie of the Week honors on four separate occasions. 

In total, 130 different men's programs and 143 women's programs were named to the All-Academic Teams for their efforts during the 2023 season, with the STAC Men compiling a team GPA of 3.29 and the women's squad recording a 3.52 team GPA.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period and compile a team score at their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.

Official USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes & Teams Release

Men's Division II: Athletes | Teams

Women's Division II: Athletes | Teams