The University of Akron Athletics
NCAA Recognizes Men's Cross Country For Academic Achievement
May 09 | Cross Country
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Full NCAA Press Release
AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron men's cross country program has received the Public Recognition Award for academic excellence from the NCAA, the organization announced this week.
The Zips harriers recorded a perfect multi-year score of 1,000.
The award is given to teams that have an Academic Progress Rate (APR) among the top 10 percent in their respective sport. APR measures eligibility, graduation and retention each semester or quarter and provides a clear picture of the academic performance for each team in each sport.
The current report measures enrollment from the academic years of 2009-10 through 2012-13.
"We are thrilled to receive this award because we put equal emphasis on school and performance as a program," said UA head coach Lee LaBadie. "The staff spends at least two hours a week making sure the athletes are prepared for class as well as the next competition. Much credit must also go to (Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Academic Services) Anne Jorgensen and her entire academic support staff."
A total of 25 teams were recognized from the Mid-American Conference, including the Zips men's cross country team, which enjoyed its best season as a program last fall.
Led by All-Ohio Freshman of the Year Clayton Murphy, Akron captured the team title at the All-Ohio Cross Country Championships for the first time since 1963, placed runner-up at the MAC Championships and took ninth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional.
Murphy was one of four UA runners to be named to the All-MAC Second Team in 2013, with Brad Hough, Trevor Norris and Kyle Cochrun joining him.
LaBadie, who inherited a program that had placed no better than fifth in the MAC in its first 19 years of existence, was named All-Ohio Coach of the Year in December. The sixth-year UA coach oversees both the men's and women's cross country programs at Akron.
The Zips were one of 1,049 teams to be publicly recognized for high achievement by the NCAA this year, including 631 women's teams and 418 men's or mixed squads. In 2013, 976 teams were recognized.
The scores required to be in the top ten ranged from 980 to a perfect 1,000, depending on the sport, with the majority of top 10 teams earning a perfect APR.
"Each year, more and more teams are achieving perfect APR scores," said NCAA president Mark Emmert. "We are proud of our member schools' commitment to providing tremendous opportunities for student-athletes so they can succeed on the field, in the classroom, and in life."
