CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Western Carolina track & field senior Korie Bennett was today named to 2016 Academic All-America® Division I Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country third team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Academic All-America teams recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

With the selection, Bennett becomes just the second women’s track & field student-athlete from Western Carolina to earn the prestigious honor. She joins former Catamount great Susie Marie Gardner who was a three-time Academic All-America selection from 1991-93.

Bennett is the lone Southern Conference representative on this year’s three Academic All-America squads.

Bennett finished third at the 2016 Southern Conference Indoor Championships in the pole vault, and ended the indoor season ranked third in the SoCon in the same event with a mark of 3.65m (11-11.75). She finished the outdoor season ranked fourth in the SoCon in pole vault with a mark of 3.75m (12-03.50). She picked up a victory in the pole vault at the 2016 Terrier Relays, and posted runner-up finishes at the Georgia Tech Invite, the WCU Invitational, and the Catamount Classic. Throughout the entire outdoor season, she never finished below third in a competition including a third place finish at the 2016 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships.

A native of Hubert, N.C., Bennett completed her undergraduate degree in Communication and Sciences Disorders with a minor in Psychology while compiling a cumulative grade point average of 3.95. She is currently working on her master’s in Communication Science and Disorders and holds a perfect 4.00 in those studies.

Bennett is the 30th all-time Academic All-American in Western Carolina athletics history joining a list of outstanding student-athletes. She is the second selection this year for WCU after senior Taylor Sigmon was a softball second team Academic All-America honoree.