NEW ORLEANS, LA
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association named its academic award winners on Thursday and Iowa Western's Women's track squad found their name at the top of the list for NJCAA women's teams.
The Reivers garnered the award with a cumulative 3.893 GPA, 10 points higher than the next highest mark. Overall six student-athletes on the squad earned a perfect 4.0 GPA and 15 Reivers were named USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans.
Head Coach Doug Marshall said, "I am extremely proud of the work our athletes and staff have put in this past year. Thank you, Dr. Kinney, our athletic administration, my amazing staff, and most importantly our extremely hard-working athletes for staying focused through the adversity faced last spring. SAILS UP!"
Members of the Reivers squad included; Sierra Coward, Janiyah Davis-Hines, Ciara Hampton, Morgan Harwin, Christine Irving, Patricia Johnson, Accacia Hinds, Blayne LeChance, Monyjok Aywak, Amya Clarke, Emmy Jepkemei, Brandy Kent, Makeda Newman, and Shania Parkinson.
Iowa Western President, Dr. Dan Kinney was overjoyed for the team, "Congratulations to Coach Marshall's team and staff for this academic achievement, I am just as proud of this National Championship as those that the team earned on the track this past season. An incredible performance given all that these young women faced this past spring."
The Iowa Western Men's side also had an outstanding finish, coming in as the national runner-up, posting a 3.797 overall GPA as a team. The Reiver men equaled the women with 15 USTFCCCA Academic All-Americans and had two individuals post perfect 4.0 GPAs.
Members of the Men's squad were Samuel Hydro, Brandon Magnuson, Peter Cuddy, Johnie Jean-Jacques, Keyon Burton, Kassim Kibet, Robert King, Shawn Kiptoo, Aarron Westmoreland, Harrison Prentice, Ethan Bronneman, Tyler Kinney, Shamar Deacon, Cameron Johnson, and Maurice Thompson.
"We are very proud of Coach Marshall and his program." IWCC Director of Athletics David Miller added, "He is dedicated to the mission of our Athletic Department to develop student-athletes academically, athletically, and personally. This award demonstrates not only his commitment but the commitment of our student-athletes to being the best."
Iowa Western Cross Country team reports August 1st as one of the only squads to compete in their championship season this fall. The Reivers will hit the course on August 20th versus outside competition.
For more on the team, follow the Reivers on Twitter https://twitter.com/ReiverCC_TF or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GoReivers/
