NEW ORLEANS – The Slippery Rock University women's cross country team led the nation with seven selections to the 2010 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic team.

The Rock placed the maximum of seven runners on the All-Academic team, matching the University of Mary and Western State for the top honors in Division II.

In order to be eligible for All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must maintain above a 3.25 cumulative grade point average and finish in the top-30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships or in the top-50 percent at the National Championships.

All seven of Slippery Rock's runners at the Regional Championships met those qualifications, including All-Region performers Jen Harpp and Crystal Burnick.

Harpp placed third at the regional meet and earned a berth in the National Championships, where she placed 15th to earn All-America honors. Burnick picked up All-Region accolades with an 11th-place finish.

Both Harpp and Burnick are repeat selections to the All-Academic team. Joining them as repeat selections are Sally Dugas, Abby Michaelian and Becky Younger.

Dugas placed 37th at the regional meet, with Younger placing 61st and Michaelian crossing the line 76th.

Stephanie Case and Becky Belding rounded out the All-Academic honorees as first time selections. Case narrowly missed All-Region with a 30th-place showing in her first regional meet. Belding was SRU's fifth finisher at regionals, placing 44th.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference led all Division II conferences with 52 selections to the 2010 All-Academic team.

The Rock finished third at both the PSAC and the NCAA Atlantic Regional championships in 2010.

SRU will host the 2011 regional meet at Cooper's Lake Campground.