Toledo, Ohio – The University of Toledo women's cross country team was named one of the 2018 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's All-Academic Teams with a 3.53 team GPA. UT was one of 427 men's and women's teams awarded the distinction.

Junior Athena Welsh was also one of 267 student-athletes who earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA. In order to qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and finish in the top-25 at the NCAA Regional Championships or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships. 

Welsh earned a cumulative GPA of 3.614 in the classroom and captured first place in three regular-season competitions. The Louisville, Ohio, native posted a time of 20:37.9 at the MAC Championship, where she finished second, missing the title by a heartbreaking three seconds, and earning First-Team All-MAC honors. At the NCAA Division I Great Lakes Regional meet Welsh took 17th place with an NCAA qualifying time of 20:55.2. She then competed in the NCAA Cross Country Championships, finishing 85th with a time of 20:59.1.

As a team, the Rockets captured three first-place finishes and five top-five regular-season team finishes last fall. In the post-season, the Rockets placed second in the MAC Championships and ninth in the NCAA Regionals. 






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