‘Cuse Cross Country Honored for Academic Success

Both the Syracuse men’s and women’s cross country teams were honored by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for their success in the classroom this season.

The Orange, which also saw its best on-course finish in over five years for both teams, maintained cumulative GPAs of 3.12 (men) and 3.475 (women) to meet the qualification threshold for the award, which requires programs maintain over a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

Additionally, Noah Carey, Sophia Jacobs-Townsley, Eleanor Lawler, were all honored as USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 (or 10 percent) at the NCAA Regional Championships or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships.

Lawler, who is earning her Ph.D in mechanical and aerospace engineering, was a USTFCCCA All-Northeast Region selection this year after taking 18th at the NCAA Northeast Regional. She finished 185th overall at the NCAA Championships, helping the team notch its best finish since 2015.

Jacobs-Townsley is a senior majoring in international relations in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Another All-Northeast Region selection, she took 20th at the regional meet, before being ‘Cuse’s third scorer (139th place) at the NCAA Championships.

Carey is majoring in radio, television and film from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He was both an All-ACC and All-Northeast Region honoree this year. He finished 12th at the ACC Championships and 11th at the NCAA Northeast Regional, before he was the team’s third scorer at the NCAA Championship, taking 82nd. The men’s team finished 12th overall at the NCAA Championships, their best finish as a team since 2016.