University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Cross Country Honored By USTFCCCA
2/9/2017 1:13:00 PM | Cross Country
Men's Scholar Teams | Women's Scholar Teams
NEW ORLEANS – The University of Northern Iowa men's and women's cross country programs were honored today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their hard work off the course during the 2016 season.
Both teams held over a 3.0 cumulative GPA, earning the NCAA Division I Cross Country Team Academic Award. Overall, there were 431 teams that earned the distinction from the USTFCCCA for their efforts both athletically and academically. Of those 431 teams, 242 were women's and 189 were men's.
The women's team, who had a 3.61 team GPA, wrapped up the 2016 season with a 10th place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional, the highest team finish in program history. It came at the heels of the Panther women winning the Missouri Valley Conference Championships on their home course in October.
The Panther men garnered a 3.13 team GPA, led by Zach Buchheit, Bailey Wetherell and CJ May throughout the season. Buchheit won MVC all-conference honorable mention honors and the conference meet.
In just his second year at the helm, the 2016 MVC Cross Country Coach of the Year, Dave Paulsen led the Panthers to exceed its preseason ranking of sixth to win the MVC Cross Country Championships, held in Cedar Falls, Iowa. UNI had four student-athletes place in the top-10 overall in Ashley Norem, Kelsey Kirchoff, Hannah Truniger and Brette Correy with Truniger earning MVC Freshman of the Year.
Players Mentioned
