Aug. 2, 2012

AMHERST, Mass. - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) honored UMass along with 171 other Division I women's track and field programs with a 3.0 GPA or higher in the spring semester of 2012. Out of every Division I women's track and field team in the nation UMass had the 46th best GPA with a 3.34. Duke University recorded the highest GPA with a 3.58.

The list of honorees included seven other schools from the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Minutewomen had the second highest GPA in the A-10 trailing Dayton with a 3.41 GPA. This is their third honor for academic prominence this summer.

Recently 19 of Julie LaFreniere's student athletes were named in the A-10 Spring Commissioner's Honor Roll for maintaining a 3.5 GPA or better in the 2012 spring semester.

UMass Graduate, Claire Pettit received the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSida) Academic All-District award for her academic excellence as well as her performance on the track.