CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's and women's cross country teams were ranked in the Top 10 for highest GPAs the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced today.
The men's 3.72 grade point average was second only to Vanderbilt who posted a nation's-best 3.74 GPA. Senior John O'Brien, recipient of the Dayle May Award given to the senior with the highest GPA, has carried a 4.0 throughout his career at Chattanooga. Transfer Harry Smithers, a Master's Candidate, also holds a 4.0 GPA. They were two of seven Mocs who posted perfect scores in the fall semester.
The women, with a 3.71 GPA, are tied for seventh behind South Carolina with a top GPA of 3.79, Oregon State (3.78), Montana (3.78), Southeast Missouri (3.77), DePaul and Drake with a 3.75 and Memphis with a 3.72. Senior Keeley Stewart was one of 13 members of the women's team named to the Dean's List and one of five with a perfect 4.0 GPA last semester.
The men, led by seniors Harry Smithers and John Gilpin, placed fifth at the Southern Conference Championships last fall. The women finished second behind Furman and saw seniors Amanda Cotter and Rebecca Greenwall named to the league All-Conference teams. The women finished 12th in the NCAA South Region with Cotter earning all-region honors with a 19th place finish.
This is the second time that both cross country teams have been ranked in the Top 10 at the same time. The men were the top ranked team in 2011 and the women were sixth, their highest-ever ranking. The men held the top spot last season and for the second time in three years were second.
