Academic honors for Walker, team
FAYETTEVILLE – Miranda Walker and the University of Arkansas women’s cross country team were recognized with the release of the United States Track and Field Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors for the 2010 season. It marks the first career selection for Walker and the third team award for the Razorbacks since 2006.
Walker, a senior distance runner from Southlake, Texas, carries a 3.675 cumulative grade-point average. She is enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences and is majoring in psychology. In addition to this national recognition, Walker is a three-time member of the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll and was named to the 2007 SEC Freshman Academic Honor Roll.
During the 2010 cross country season, Walker capped her year by gaining an at-large bid into the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. She finished the 6K course in a time of 21:17.19, good for 91st place among 253 finishers. Her time and placing were both career bests at the national meet for Walker. In addition to her NCAA performance, she earned first-team All-SEC and All-South Central Region accolades with a fourth-place finish at the conference meet and a bronze showing at the regional meet.
Walker is one of seven runners from the SEC honored by the USTFCCCA. A total of 99 student-athletes representing 62 institutions were named to the all-academic list. To qualify for the All-Academic Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and have either earned USTFCCCA All-America status or finished in the NCAA region’s top 15 (or top 10 percent) in 2010.
As a team, Arkansas’ cross country crew combined for a 3.17 cumulative grade-point average. The Razorbacks were previous acknowledged during the 2006 and 2008 seasons. To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the honoree must have had a team GPA of 3.00 or higher and have started at least five participants at its respective NCAA regional championships.
