Morehead, Ky. – For the 10th time in the last 13 years, both the Morehead State men's and women's cross country teams have been recognized nationally for their achievements in the classroom.

MSU is one of seven Ohio Valley Conference schools to be honored as a recipient of the 2021 All-Academic Team Award from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). A total of 318 Division I men's and women's squads earned the honor this fall. In order to be eligible, a team must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 and have entered at least five runners at an NCAA regional championship meet.

The Eagle women posted a 3.39 team GPA, while the men notched a 3.29 mark.

"I'm glad we're not just good on the course, but also good in the classroom. The core (mission) of the NCAA is to be good upstanding citizens and this award shows that our teams are achieving that," said MSU coach Clay Dixon. "I'm proud of the teams' accomplishments and this embodies the type of student-athlete we want to have in this program. This is just another indication that the individuals we have here at Morehead State can compete at a high level and still excel academically, and it's nice to have their hard work recognized once again."

Both the men's and women's teams at Austin Peay, Eastern Illinois, Murray State, Southeast Missouri and SIU-Edwardsville also received the honor, as did the Belmont women. The Eagle men had the fourth highest GPA among the conference schools, while the MSU women notched the fifth best mark. In addition, EIU's Lindsey Carlson was named as an All-Academic Athlete.

The Eagles were not members of the USTFCCCA last year and therefore did not qualify for the award, although both cross country squads' grade-point averages met the requirement. MSU teams previously received the honor in 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Morehead State is scheduled to travel back to Louisville on Friday for the PNC Bank Challenge at Bellarmine.