WKU cross country teams earn USTFCCCA All-Academic honors

Western Kentucky’s men’s and women’s cross country teams each earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team honors for their efforts in the classroom during the 2019 NCAA Division I Cross Country season.

“I’m extremely proud of our student-athletes for the work and commitment they showed both in the classroom and in competition throughout the cross country season,” WKU director of cross country/track & field Brent Chumbley said in a news release. “This is another step in the right direction for our cross country program.”

The accolade marks the first time since 2015 that either cross country squad has been named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, with the women’s team earning that distinction following their 2015 campaign. The last time that both the men’s and women’s teams received all-academic recognition was in 2014.

The women’s squad was one of 237 teams to earn all-academic honors, and combined for a 3.49 cumulative GPA during the 2019 cross country season. On the men’s side, the team compiled a 3.27 GPA and was one of 191 squads to earn the distinction.

In order to qualify, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period.

Fuller, O’Toole top 25 at Georgia Southern Individual Collegiate

Western Kentucky men’s golfers Luke Fuller and Caleb O’Toole continued to lead the Hilltoppers in the final round of the Georgia Southern Individual Collegiate. The pair finished tied for 25th at the par-72, 6,876-yard Georgia Southern University Golf Course in Statesboro, Ga.

For the second consecutive day, Fuller and O’Toole led the WKU individuals, each firing a final-round 3-over 75 for a 54-hole total of 225. This is the first time either Fuller or O’Toole have finished in the top 25 this season, and the sixth consecutive event WKU has had at least one top-25 finisher.

Redshirt sophomore Dawson McDaniel finished with WKU’s best final round score at 2-over 74. McDaniel improved his scores each round, tying for 39th with a two-day total of 233.

Finishing one stroke behind McDaniel was Tom Bevington. The senior recorded WKU’s third 3-over 75 of the day to tie for 41st at a total of 234. Junior Jack Poole fired a final-round 82 to finish in 54th.

Junior Chase Landrum finished out the event with an 8-over 80 to shoot a 52-hole score of 244.

WKU is back in action for its first team event of the spring season on Feb. 10. The squad will travel to Mobile, Ala., for the Mobile Sports Authority Intercollegiate