Cobbers Extend Impressive Team Academic Streak

MOORHEAD, Minn. (7/25/14)—Concordia continued their tradition of academic excellence by posting five athletes to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team and earning the team distinction for another season.

Hillary Birchem, Mikayla Forness, Olivia Johnson, Cherae Reeves and Hilary Thompson all earned USTFCCCA All-Academic team honors for carrying at least a 3.10 cumulative grade point average and finishing in the top 35 in the nation in an individual event. 

Concordia was one of four schools in the MIAC to have five athletes earn the top academic distinction handed out by the national governing body of collegiate track and field.

Birchem, Johnson, Reeves and Thompson all participated in the NCAA National Outdoor Track and Field Meet in the spring and all four finished in the top 20 of their event. Forness didn't qualify for the national meet but was 33rd in the country in the event.

All five Cobber athletes have at least a 3.35 cumulative GPA. Birchem carries a 3.84 GPA while majoring in Business. Forness is majoring in Physical Therapy and has a 3.59 GPA. Johnson is majoring in Mathematical Finance and has a 3.65 GPA while Reeves carries a 3.39 GPA and is majoring in Biology. Thompson, the lone senior in the group, majored in Communications and Art and finished with a 3.53 GPA.

Concordia continued their impressive record of team academic honors. The Cobbers earned their 56th consecutive USTFCCCA team award in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track field. Concordia has earned the team distinction every season since head coach Marv Roeske took over the track and field program in 1995 and the cross country team in 1999.