NEW ORLEANS -- Both the University of Delaware men’s and women’s cross country teams have been honored by the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association for their academic accomplishments during the 2008 fall semester.

Both teams are led by head coach Jim Fischer and each had a team cumulative grade point index higher than 3.0 and was honored as a Scholar Team by the USTFCCCA.

A total of 160 NCAA Division women’s teams and 111 men’s teams were honored for having a 3.0 or better team gpa. Iona College won the men’s Scholar Team of the Year for the third straight season while the University of Washington won the women’s award.

The Delaware men had a cumulative grade point index of 3.040 for the fall semester as 10 of the 18 team members posted a gpa of 3.0 or better, including Ed Bonnevie, Chris Bourke, Alex Gambogi, Mitch Kastoff, Kevin Kemmerle, Matt O’Brian, Rich Pisan, Nick Pyle, Andy Weaver, and Phil Weigel.

The Blue Hen women had a cumulative grade point index of 3.411 and had 17 of its 26 teams members post a 3.0 or better mark, including Lexi Ambrogi, Christina Antonopoulos, Yianna Antonopoulos, Ellen Craven, Jessie Ermak, Kirsten Fitch, Ali Lambert, Karen Mandrachia, Amanda McGowan, Megan McGrath, Liz Paul, Kaylee Pineault, Sarah Ports, Tracy Powell (at right), Rachel Schaefer, Lindsay Schmiedel, and Kellyn Wright.

In addition to Delaware, other Colonial Athletic Association teams honored were the Georgia State men and women, the UNC Wilmington men and women, the William & Mary women, the Towson women, the Northeastern women, and the George Mason men.