NEW ORLEANS - The American University women's track team continues to set new standards of excellence in the classroom, as the Eagles registered the top team cumulative grade-point average (GPA) in Division I women's track & field this spring, as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday. Both the women's and men's teams earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Awards for the 2021 track season after posting cumulative GPAs of 3.80 and 3.35, respectively.

"The success that the women have consistently had in the classroom year in and year out, in addition to their growth and development on the grass and the track, is awe-inspiring," head coach Sean Graham said. "These women hold themselves to such a high standard in everything they do, and seeing this result of their hard work leading all other teams is very well-deserved. I am so very proud and impressed by their commitment to athletic and academic excellence here at AU."

In order to earn a USTFCCCA All-Academic Award, a team must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

This is the fourth consecutive All-Academic Team Award for the women, and the second time they ranked within the top-five of Division I after they posted the fifth-highest GPA in 2020 (3.75). The women's cross country team has seen similar success, including a No. 7 ranking this past fall (3.80). 

Leading the way for the women's squad this year were nine perfect 4.0 GPA efforts during the spring semester and three Academic All-Patriot League selections in senior Shelbi Wuss and sophomores Ana Keene and Nia Holden. Wuss and Keene both earned honors during the spring cross country season while Holden was honored during the indoor track slate. 

The accolades continued to roll in for Wuss as she became the program's second CoSIDA Academic All-District Team selection after concluding her degree in biochemistry with a 4.00 spring semester GPA and 3.97 cumulative GPA.

For the men's team, this is the third All-Academic Team Award in the last four years for the indoor and outdoor track season. The Eagles have also earned three consecutive All-Academic nods for the cross country season. 

Like the women's team, the men earned three Academic All-Patriot League nods throughout the year with sophomore Russell Sullivan (cross country, outdoor track) and senior Mark Kopp (indoor track).

For the latest on American University Track, stay tuned to AUEagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_TrackXC) and Instagram (@AU_TrackXC).