April 11, 2003

Samford's women's cross country team finished with the seventh-best cumulative GPA in the country, the NCAA announced Friday. The Bulldogs compiled a 3.64 GPA for the first semester of 2002, and were accorded "All-Academic Cross Country Team, With Distinction", honors.

To qualify for the NCAA's Academic All-American honors, a team must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA. To qualify for "With Distinction" consideration, a team must have a cumulative 3.25 GPA.

In January, nine Bulldogs earned All-Academic Honors from the Atlantic Sun Conference. Jessica Brewer, Michelle Brewer, Lauren Floyd, Erin Giesa, Connie Heiskell, Jessica Jansen, Brittney Mensen, Suzanne Walker and Jenny Wottle all posted at least a 3.0 GPA for the Fall 2002 semester.

The team's success was not confined to the classroom, as Samford finished second at the A-Sun Championships in November.

In 2000, the women's cross country team finished second in NCAA Division I in team GPA with a 3.67.