New Orleans, La. – A total of 12 individuals and both men's and women's track and field programs earned academic honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced recently.
 
For teams to earn the honor from the USTFCCCA, the programs must maintain at least a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA throughout the academic year. Individuals must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA, have at least 24 credit hours completed and have earned an NCAA Provisional Qualifying Mark in either the indoor or outdoor seasons.
 
The Southern women posted a 3.35 team GPA, while the Lions' men had a 3.17 GPA in 2021-22.
 
Individually, the men had eight honorees, while the women had four. The Lions' men were represented by Taris Jackson, Brendan Jewell, Gidieon Kimutai, Nathan Kovis, JaDarius Pigg, Ryan Riddle, Brendan Rozier and JP Rutledge. The women were represented by Katie Candrl, Jasmine Deckard, Claire Luallen and LaNea Wallace.
 
"This is a great honor for both programs and speaks volumes about the hard work each one of our student-athletes puts forward throughout the year," said Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Bryan Schiding. "This shows a level of success not only on the track, but also within the classroom."
 
For a complete list and release from the USTFCCCA, please click on the story links section above.