OTAHK CROSS COUNTRY TEAM BOASTS HIGHEST GPA IN NATION

The women's cross country team at Southeast Missouri State University has been recognized by the Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association as having the highest team grade-point average in the nation.

Southeast had a team GPA of 3.71 to rank first nationally. Nebraska was second (3.67).

The Otahkians placed second in the Ohio Valley Conference meet and they were eighth in the NCAA Regional.

The Coaches Association rankings are based only on teams that placed in NCAA Regional competition and ranked Southeast as an Academic All-American team "With Distinction."

Southeast senior Janelle Quigley, the OVC cross country champion, was recognized as a Women's Intercollegiate Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American. Quigley has a 3.80 GPA and she finished fourth in the NCAA Regional.

To be considered for the Coaches Association academic honor, athletes must carry a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finish in the top 10 percent of their NCAA Regional.

"This is quite an honor for our cross country team," said Southeast coach Joey Haines. "It shows that our young women perform at a very high level both athletically and academically. I'm very proud of this academic accomplishment."

Other members of the Southeast cross country team and their cumulative GPA's are:

Amy Arteme (4.0), Celeste Ramsey (3.91), Leslie McNamara (3.84), Jessie Thompson (3.71), Tammy Wenkel (3.49), Katie Gilbert (3.25) and Hannah Stuckenschneider (2.67).

Arteme and Ramsey are both local athletes, Arteme from Kelly High School and Ramsey out of Perryville High.