NEW ORLEANS, La. (pacathletics.org) - Eleven Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) programs and 17 individuals were recognized when the All-Academic Athletes and All-Academic Teams for the 2024 NCAA Division III Cross Country season were announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
The 11 programs included seven women's teams, highlighted by the 2024 PAC Cross Country champion Allegheny College, whose 3.74 team GPA tied for 28th among the 222 programs recognized. Also featured on the list was Saint Vincent College, who posted a 3.825 team GPA to rank 11th.
The four men's programs receiving All-Academic Team distinction were led by Washington & Jefferson, who placed 73rd among the 199 honored programs with a 3.5 team GPA.
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. To qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.
Among the 17 runners to earn All-Academic recognition included five who qualified for the 2024 NCAA Championships. Highlighting that list was W&J junior Claire Anderson, who became the first W&J and PAC women's runner to win a Regional when she took first at the Mid-Atlantic race. Anderson, a political science and philosophy double major at W&J, then became the first PAC runner since 2014 to earn All-America honors when she finished 23rd at NCAA Championships.
Other female PAC runners to qualify for nationals who earned All-Academic laurels included Allegheny junior Chloe Bonson (computer science & economics), Grove City senior Lydia Bennett (communications), and Saint Vincent freshman Grace Neubert (engineering).
On the men's side, W&J senior Brock Pennington (accounting) earned All-Academic after his fall season ended with a trip to NCAA Championships.
The complete list of PAC teams and individuals honored is below:
| PAC Cross Country Programs on 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams List |
| School |
Gender |
GPA |
Head Coach |
| Allegheny |
Women |
3.74 |
Ben Mourer |
| Franciscan |
Women |
3.296 |
Dr. Dan Kuebler |
| Grove City |
Women |
3.55 |
Paul Collier |
| Saint Vincent |
Women |
3.825 |
Kevin Wanichko |
| Washington & Jefferson |
Women |
3.55 |
Andy Upton |
| Waynesburg |
Women |
3.38 |
Chris Hardie |
| Westminster |
Women |
3.5 |
Tim McNeil |
|
|
|
|
| Allegheny |
Men |
3.35 |
Ben Mourer |
| Franciscan |
Men |
3.4 |
Dr. Dan Kuebler |
| Saint Vincent |
Men |
3.389 |
Kevin Wanichko |
| Washington & Jefferson |
Men |
3.5 |
Andy Upton |
| PAC Cross Country Runners on 2024 USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete List |
| Name |
School |
Class |
Hometown/High School |
| Miguel Daez |
Franciscan |
Grad. |
Sterling, Va./Holy Family Homeschool |
| Andrew Madigan |
Franciscan |
Jr. |
Lawrenceville, N.J./The Wilberforce School |
| Caleb Hawke |
Grove City |
Jr. |
Grove City, Pa./Grove City |
| Julian Paul |
W&J |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour |
| Brock Pennington |
W&J |
Sr. |
North East, Pa./North East |
|
|
|
|
| Chloe Bonson |
Allegheny |
Jr. |
Penn Township, Pa./Penn-Trafford |
| Celia Cocca |
Allegheny |
Sr. |
East Aurora, N.Y./East Aurora |
| Marrin Crist |
Allegheny |
Sr. |
Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg Area |
| Nelly Stafford |
Allegheny |
Sr. |
Middletown, Md./Middletown |
| Julia Bauer |
Grove City |
Sr. |
Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills |
| Lydia Bennett |
Grove City |
Sr. |
Bethel, Maine/Gould Academy |
| Cayla Lawrence |
Grove City |
So. |
Mendon, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima |
| Grace Smith |
Grove City |
Sr. |
Dover, Ohio/Dover |
| Miranda Cincotta |
Saint Vincent |
Jr. |
Emmitsburg, Md./St. John's Catholic Prep |
| Cassy Lanza |
Saint Vincent |
Jr. |
Shermans Dale, Pa./West Perry |
| Grace Neubert |
Saint Vincent |
Fr. |
Saint Marys, Pa./Elk County Catholic |
| Claire Anderson |
W&J |
Jr. |
Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown |