NEW ORLEANS – USC Aiken's cross country team was
recently named to the NCAA Division II US Track and Field and Cross
Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team list.
Teams needed to have a 3.0 or better grade point average, and also
compete at the NCAA Regional Tournament level to qualify for the
award.
USC Aiken is one of 99 Division II women's cross country
programs on the prestigious list. The Pacers maintained a team
average of 3.350 in 2008.
USC Aiken was one of two current Peach Belt Conference
institutions honored for their work in the classroom. Georgia
College and State also received plaudits from the USTFCCCA.
Future league member Flagler was also tabbed as one of the 98
teams for its work in the classroom.
The award by the USTFCCCA marks the second time in the offseason
that the Pacers have been honored for their efforts in the
classroom.
USC Aiken's Alley Dachenhaus and Nicole Maitland were named
to the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Women's Cross Country
All-Academic Team earlier this year.
Dachenhaus is a senior Early Childhood Education major from
Batesburg, S.C. (Batesburg-Leesville High School) who currently
carries a 3.72 gpa. Maitland is a sophomore Elementary Education
major from Chapin, S.C. (Chapin High School) who presently has a
3.23 gpa.
Both runners were named to the second team.
Dachenhaus' best finish in 2008 came at the Gamecock Invitational.
The senior finished the event in 27th with a time of 24:24.60.
Maitland picked up her first career victory in a multi-team event
in 2008 by capturing the Blue Hose Invitational in Clinton, S.C.
Maitland covered the 5K course in 19:47 to hold off Francis
Marion's Kelly May and Lander's Ogla Nunez-Lopez for
the victory.
The victory in the Blue Hose Invitational by
Maitland earned her PBC Runner of the Week accolades. The honor
helped her become USCA's first-ever league Runner of the
Week.
USC Aiken's best finish as a team in 2008 came at the Blue
Hose Invitational as well as the Pacers concluded the event tied
for second as a team.
