Cross Country Squads Earn USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Award

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Wells College men's and women's cross country teams picked up United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III All-Academic Team awards on Friday. Amongst the 220 programs recognized with the award, Wells was one of only 141 schools to have both their men's and women's teams honored in the same season.

The women's cross country team at Wells earned the award for the third-consecutive season while the men's squad received the distinction for the first time in school history. The Wells women accumulated a 3.35 grade-point average while the men's team averaged a cumulative mark of 3.30 through the first semester.

Amongst North Eastern Athletic Conference members, Wells was the lone women's cross country representative while the Express joined Penn St.-Abington as one of two men's programs to be recognized. For the last three seasons, the Express women have been the lone NEAC representative to earn recognition.

Piloted by Dr. Jack Daniels in 2013, the cross country programs at Wells made enormous strides. For the first time in school history, a complete team was sent to compete at the NCAA Division III Atlantic Regional Cross Country Championship in 2013-14. With five runners fielded from the women's team at Wells, the Express were able to produce a team score for the first time at the event.

Senior Emily Middlebrook (Newark, N.Y.) placed second overall as an individual at the NEAC Championships in early November. A two-time first place finisher at the league events, Middlebrook and freshman Deaven Theriault (Ludlow, Mass.) finished within the top-10 for two consecutive races for the Express, setting a program record. Junior Paul Hernon (New Hartford, N.Y.) became only the second male to collect All-Conference honors after finishing 20th at the conference championship.

For a full list of award winners, click here.