For the third-straight year the women's cross country squad has been honored by the NCAA for its APR score. (Photo: ASU Athletics)

Women’s Cross Country Recognized by the NCAA For Academic Success
by Appalachian Sports Information

April, 24, 2008 - BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University women’s cross country program was honored for the third-consecutive year with an NCAA Public Recognition Award for its latest Academic Progress Rate (APR) score released Thursday by the NCAA.

For the past three seasons, the Mountaineers have ranked in the top 10 percent of all women’s cross country squads to earn the distinction. The team was one of just three women’s cross country squads in the Southern Conference, and the only from a public institution, to garner the prestigious award. Only 33 teams in the nation and 14 from public institutions were recognized with the Mountaineers.

ASU was one of seven Southern Conference institutions to have a team honored with the Public Recognition Award and the cross country squad was one of just four teams from a public university in the league to earn such lofty academic accolades.

The APR is designed to provide a real-time look at a team’s academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete. The APR includes eligibility, retention and graduation in the calculation and provides a clear picture of the academic culture in each sport. High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000.