TRACK & FIELD AND CROSS COUNTRY BOTH REWARDED FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS BY THE NCAA

6/14/2012

INDIANAPOLIS – The Sacramento State men’s cross country, women’s cross country, women’s indoor track & field, and women’s outdoor track & field squads received the Academic Performance Program Public Recognition Award from the NCAA, it was announced today.
 
The four teams posted multiyear Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores in the top 10 percent of all squads nationally in their respective sports. The Hornet women’s indoor track & field team has now received the award two straight years.
 
As a whole, the nine-member Big Sky Conference had 11 teams receive recognition for the 2010-11 academic year, and Sacramento State’s track and field/cross country programs accounted for four of those awards. In fact, no other Big Sky institution had more than two programs honored.
 
The APR recognition caps yet another impressive season for the Hornet track & field program. Sacramento State convincingly won the Big Sky women’s outdoor title for the fifth straight year, defeated UC Davis in a must-win situation in both men’s and women’s outdoor track & field to clinch the Causeway Cup, and saw senior Renisha Robinson earn second team All-America honors in the women’s 800. In addition, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Kathleen Raske earned Big Sky Women’s Coach of the Year for an unprecedented fifth straight season.
 
“My definition of a championship program is one that not only consistently competes at the top of our conference, but also competes for better grades in the classroom,” Raske said. “All of our student-athletes and coaches work hard to develop this championship culture. Each member of my team knows the importance of meeting our team’s academic goals and the sense of teamwork needed to achieve those goals. 
 
“We are very excited to be recognized for this award, and it reflects a total collective effort of our administration, support services, student-athletes and coaches.”
 
The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport.