By: By: Bill Morgal, Sports Information Director
NEW ORLEANS – Senior
Neely Spence was named the 2011 Division II Women's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday evening by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
It is the second straight year that Spence has received the USTFCCCA's top academic honor.
Spence is a human communications studies major seeking a minor in coaching who has compiled a 3.86 grade-point average through seven semesters at Shippensburg.
In her final collegiate cross country season, Spence, the 2011 USTFCCCA Division II Cross Country Female Athlete of the Year, won her second straight national championship with a 13-second victory over the field and a 6K time of 20:53.
She concluded her collegiate cross country career as a two-time Division II national champion, three-time Division II All-American, four-time NCAA Atlantic Region champion and a four-time PSAC champion.
Spence is one of four athletes that was designated with Division II All-Academic Cross Country status by the USTFCCCA. Joining Spence are Shippensburg teammates
Katie Spratford,
Sarah Strayer and
Emma Shank.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team in Division II, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or greater through the most recent semester, completed at least 12 credit hours in the semester of cross country competition, and placed in the top 50 percent at the most recent NCAA National Championships or in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships.
UPDATE: On February 16, Shippensburg was designated as a 2011 Division II All-Academic Cross Country squad for compiling a 3.27 grade-point average.
A total of 124 institutions represent 23 conferences that compose the group. The PSAC notched 15 teams on the All-Academic list to lead the country. The Northeast-10 and GLIAC followed with 11 each.
