Detroit Honored for Academics by USTFCCCA

DETROIT -- The Detroit men's and women's track and field programs were honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as a Division I All-Academic Track & Field Team.

In order to be considered an All-Academic Track & Field Team, a program must record a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better.

For the men's squad, Detroit receives the academic accolade for the 11th-straight year as the Titans posted a 3.14 GPA. Only 111 programs in Division I were honored and the Titans one of two teams that competed in the Horizon League in 2012-13 to make the grade, with Loyola being the other. The Titans were also one of just two schools from the state of Michigan on the academic list, joining Eastern Michigan.

The women were honored once again, making the highly acclaimed team for the 12th-straight year, every year since the USTFCCCA started the award in 2002. Only 187 Division I schools on the women's side totaled a GPA over 3.0, which included just Loyola from the Horizon League and EMU, Michigan and Western Michigan from the Great Lakes State. Detroit's 3.31 GPA was tied for the 64th highest in the nation.

Detroit's new Horizon League rival, Oakland, had one runner honored by the USTFCCCA. Recent graduate Brittni Hutton, a communications major, finished her career in the classroom with a 3.42 GPA and placed 43rd overall in the 10,000m run at the NCAA East Prelims.

"This is the final award for Brittni in an illustrious career," Oakland head coach Paul Rice said in a release from the school. "An academic honor is the perfect way to end her career. Her academic success was always the highest priority for her and this award is a testament to her overall dedication to Oakland University. We will miss her, but I know that she has helped lay the groundwork for a great future for our program."