Track team and individuals honored for academics

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team was honored once again for its academic prowess by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) this summer with eight individuals and the team getting recognition by the organization.

The Lady Razorbacks as a team posted a 3.13 grade point average, astonishing considering the nearly 40 team members. Individually, Carly Bloomfield, Caroline Peyton, Dacia Barr, Dani Parry, Denise Bargiachi, Katie Stripling, Megan Jackson and Michelle Rossio were each named all-Academic by the organization.

“We are always very proud of our student-athletes when they earn academic awards,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “It is a testament to the hard work that they put in throughout the year when you consider their travel schedules for meets and the coursework they must make up. We continue to strive to bring in the best student-athletes to Arkansas and this is just a small indicator of that.”

Arkansas’ student-athletes were solid on the field of competition with an all-America honor and five NCAA Outdoor Championship participants. Even more impressive is that five of the eight began their competitive seasons in early September with cross country and did not finish until after the school year concluded. As a team, the Lady Razorbacks dominated the cross country field at the SEC Championships, and then took a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships. The outdoor track squad finished second in the SEC and 15th nationally.

For the individual awards, student-athletes must not only make the grade in the classroom with a minimum 3.25 grade point average, but also on the field of competition by obtaining a NCAA regional qualifier in outdoor track or a provisional or automatic qualifier in indoor track. The team award goes to track programs that maintain a 3.00 cumulative team GPA.

The Lady Razorbacks return to campus in late August to prepare for their 2007-08 seasons. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas Women’s Athletics, please visit LADYBACKS.com.