SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recently announced its 2008 Division I Men’s and Women’s All-Academic Track and Field Teams and the Southern Conference was represented by four teams and six individuals.

On the men’s side, Wofford and Chattanooga were the only two SoCon men’s teams represented. The Terriers men ranked 10th with a 3.190 team GPA, while the Mocs men sported a 3.000 team GPA to place 48th. Individually, Michael Mentz of Chattanooga was honored along with a trio of Western Carolina student-athletes, David Bowles, Matt Evans and Kevin Johnson.

Highlighting the women’s list for the SoCon was Chattanooga and the College of Charleston. The Mocs placed 27th with a 3.344 team GPA, while the Cougars placed 45th with a 3.281 team GPA. Individually, Western Carolina’s Shalyn McMichael and Raquel Ramseur were both honored.

Overall, the USTFCCCA honored 48 men’s teams, 120 women’s teams, 268 men student athletes and 489 women student-athletes.

Teams must have a minimum weighted cumulative GPA of 3.000 on a 4.000 scale.  All student-athletes on either the indoor or the outdoor NCAA official team roster must be included in the GPA calculation.  Programs must also be a member of the USTFCCCA.

To qualify individually for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.