Joplin, Mo. – Missouri Southern sophomore track and field and cross country student-athlete JP Rutledge has been named an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the organization announced today.
 
To be nominated for Academic All-America recognition, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA, have been enrolled for at least one full year, as well as competing in at least 50 percent of their team's competitions. Student-Athletes first must earn Academic All-District honors, before they are moved to the ballot for Academic All-America recognition.
 
Rutledge maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA in english at Missouri Southern. He has been a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and is a two-time MIAA Scholar-Athlete, as well as a two-time winner of the MIAA Academic Excellence Award. He has been on the MSSU Dean's list and was a member of the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.
 
This season, Rutledge was an All-MIAA, All-Region and All-American selection in cross country this season. He went on to finish sixth at the NCAA Division II National Championships. He was an All-MIAA selection in the 10k at this year's MIAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and qualified for the 2022 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships.