Seahawks, Palmquist earn academic honors from USTFCCCA

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Salve Regina women's cross country team has been named an All-Academic Team by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, marking the third consecutive year that the Seahawks have made the grade with the USTFCCCA.

USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams must compile a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.10 and compete in at least five different meets with a full scoring contingent in each race. Salve Regina had a team GPA of 3.21.

"When we talk about our goals for the season, maintaining our team GPA is always at the top of the list. Our student-athletes are students first, and this award affirms that we have our priorities in order," said head coach Rob McGuinness. "There's no doubt that our team is getting the job done in the classroom, and I'm proud that we're a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the third year in a row."

Junior captain Aubrey Palmquist (Bristol, Conn.) also earned recognition as a USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Individual. Honorees must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 and finish inside the top 25 percent of the field in their NCAA regional championship meet.

Palmquist placed well inside the top 25 percent – 65/387 – in leading Salve Regina to a top-20 finish in the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship. The nursing major was the team's lead runner in six of eight meets last fall.

There were 211 women's programs that met the standards for a Division III All-Academic Team, according to the USTFCCCA. Salve Regina University and Roger Williams University were the only Commonwealth Coast Conference schools named to the list.

The USTFCCCA award comes just weeks after the Seahawks had 11 student-athletes named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference Academic All Conference Team. The honorees included senior Jennifer Chieco (Clifton Park, N.Y.), juniors Lea Cure (Altamont, N.Y.), Rachel Gedansky (Tolland, Conn.), Tori Maxson (Old Saybrook, Conn.), Jackie Ofria (Manchester, Conn.), Aubrey Palmquist (Bristol, Conn.), Amy Piccicacco (Point Pleasant, N.J.) and Joelle Ross (Simsbury, Conn.) and sophomores Casey Devaney (Mahwah, N.J.) and Victoria Varone (Providence, R.I.). The CCC award requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30.