For an unprecedented 16th consecutive year, both Hope College cross country teams are being honored nationally for academic excellence.
The College Cross Country Coaches Association recently announced its Team Academic All-Americans for the fall 2005 season. As they have for every year since 1990, coach Mark Northuis' men's and women's teams are on the honor roll. Northuis has coached the Hope cross country teams since 1988.
Hope is the only college in all of NCAA Division III to achieve this honor for both of its teams (men and women) for 16 consecutive years.
To qualify for the award, a team needed a minimum cumulative team grade point average of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale and also have competed at an NCAA III regional meet.
The women's teams ranked 43rd among NCAA Division III colleges with a cumulative 3.47 GPA. The leading women's team is St. Mary's, Minn. at 3.74.
The men's team ranked 50th among NCAA Division III colleges with a cumulative 3.21 GPA. The leading men's team is Whitworth, Wash. at 3.57.
In addition, two Hope athletes received individual All-Academic recognition for having a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Honored were freshman Lisa Peterson of Upper Arlington, Ohio (Upper Arlington HS) and senior Kyle Williams of Plainwell (Delton Kellogg HS).