NEW ORLEANS – Senior runner Tristin Van Ord and Appalachian State University women's cross country both earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors for the second-straight year on Thursday.

Van Ord grabs her second consecutive USTFCCCA All-Academic honor after a spectacular cross country season and snatching 22nd at the 2016 NCAA Southeast Regional Meet on Oct. 11. The Chapel Hill native snagged all-region honors after a lifetime-best performance of 21:05.60 in the 6k at Panorama Farms. To be considered for this accolade, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finish in the top-25 at regionals or finish as an All-American at the national meet. As a whole 256 student-athletes and 168 women earned spots on the academic list.

In addition to Van Ord's individual award, the Curcio-led women's squad earned All-Academic Team honors. To be recognized for academic achievement, teams have to own a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and place high at regionals. App was one of 431 teams to acquire this distinction and was one of 242 women's teams to be recognized.

The 2016 fall season was highlighted by Van Ord and the Mountaineers seizing the Sun Belt Cross Country Championship title. The women accumulated 43 points to take the crown, and all of Appalachian's competitors landed inside the top-15 clinching all-conference honors.

— appstatesports.com —