UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The Penn State women's cross country team, along with three individuals were recognized for their strong work in the classroom by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Thursday afternoon.
The Penn State women's cross country team was recognized with the NCAA DI Cross Country Team Academic Award boasting a team GPA of 3.39. Individually, women's squad members Tessa Barrett, Elizabeth Chikotas and Kathryn Munks were recognized as All-Academic.
The women's team wrapped up the 2016 season at the NCAA championships with an 18th-place finish, recording the first back-to-back top-20 finish at the championships in the programs NCAA history following a 16th-place finish at last year's championships.
Junior Elizabeth Chikotas led the women's team to the 18th-place finish in the 2016 NCAA cross country championships with her All-American finish in 15th-place followed by teammate Jillian Hunsberger who also finished the meet as an All-American in 36th-place.
To be eligible for the team award, teams must have a cumulative team GPA of at least 3.0. To earn the individual award, student-athletes must have at least a cumulative GPA of 3.25, and finish in the top-25 at NCAA Regionals or as an All-American (top-40) at the NCAA cross country championships.