Wittenberg Cross Country Earns National Academic Awards

Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg University’s women’s cross country team and sophomore Jon Osman (Troy, Ohio/Troy) of the Tiger men’s team have earned national recognition for their work in the classroom during the recently completed 2014 season. The women’s team has earned United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III All-Academic Team honors after posting an exemplary cumulative grade point average, while Osman garnered recognition as a USTFCCCA All-Academic honoree. 

A total of 211 women’s programs and 152 men’s NCAA Division III programs earned All-Academic Team honors following the 2014 season. Teams qualify for the honor after compiling a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.1 while competing in at least five races during the fall semester. Wittenberg’s women finished with a tremendous 3.38 cumulative grade point average to gain the award for the seventh time in the last eight years. 

Osman was among 325 women and 246 men in NCAA Division III to earn All-Academic honors individually. Honorees must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 and have finished in the top 25 percent at a regional competition. Osman placed 35^th at the 2014 NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional meet. 

“It is a goal of our program to succeed in both the classroom and on the course,” said Wittenberg Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Craig Penney. “I am very pleased with the efforts of our student-athletes in both areas. I look forward to seeing our student-athletes continue to grow and achieve at a high level in both their running and their chosen academic pursuits.” 

Wittenberg’s men placed ninth in the 2014 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship meet and 24^th in the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional. The Tiger women finished eighth in the league meet and 33^rd in the regional competition.

Written By: Ryan Maurer