DC Women’s Harriers Acknowledged for Academic Aptitude

NEW ORLEANS – For the second time in three years, the Defiance College women's cross country team was honored by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for its work in the class room. Defiance was one of 167 teams in the nation to receive 2010 Div. III All-Academic Cross Country status. [Release]

The academic recognition comes in the wake of an excellent 2010 season for the DC harriers, who placed third at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships in October, marking their best finish since 2004.

Defiance benefited from the leadership of hometown product, Kaitlin Switzer, who paced the Jackets in each event during her senior campaign, culminating in a sixth-place individual finish at the conference championship meet and her first-career selection as an All-HCAC performer. DC's Kate Busto received Honorable Mention All-HCAC honors following a 15th place finish at the championship meet in her first season out of Hoover High School, along with HCAC Academic All-Conference selection, Ellen Stryffeler, who received the honorable mention nod after placing 17th overall.

DC was joined by conference rivals, Anderson, Bluffton, Earlham, Franklin and Manchester on the USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academic list, which requires a cumulative grade point average of 3.1 or higher.