Bennett - Cerbin Named to All-Academic Team
March 18, 2009
Two Luther College cross county runners have been named to the 2008 Division III All-Academic Women’s Cross Country Team by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). A total of 221 Division III female student-athletes received this honor, up 18 from last year’s total.
The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for this prestigious award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum grade point average of 3.5 or higher and finish in the top-25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.
Luther’s two individuals were seniors Elise Bennett (Omaha, Neb./Millard North) and Flannery Cerbin (La Crosse, Wis./Central). Bennett finished 13th and Cerbin finished 23rd from the field of 182 runners at the Central Regional. Bennett is an Elementary Education major and Cerbin is majoring in Environmental Studies.
Luther was also one of a record 156 Division III women’s programs to receive the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award. To earn this honor, a team must have competed and compiled a team score at the regional meet. The team’s entire 2007 roster must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.10 or greater. Luther’s team GPA was a combined 3.535.
Under the direction of fourth year head coach Yarrow Pasche, Luther finished second at the Iowa Conference Championships, the Central Regional and qualified for the NCAA III National Championships for a third consecutive year. At the national championships, Luther placed seventh from the field of 32 teams, recording a fifth top-10 performance at the national finale.
