NEW ORLEANS – The Slippery Rock University women’s track and field team tied with two other institutions in posting the highest number of Division II All-Academic performers for the 2009-10 academic year, as announced by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Thursday.

The Rock joined Shippensburg and Grand Valley State with 12 representatives on the All-Academic team. In order to be eligible for All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must maintain above a 3.25 cumulative GPA and must post at least an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in their respective event during the indoor or outdoor seasons.

A total of 276 females in Division II earned All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA.

“I’m extremely proud of this honor,” said head coach John Papa. “We pride ourselves on what we do on the track, but academics will always come first.”

Of the 276 honorees, 16 posted perfect 4.0 GPAs, including Slippery Rock’s Jen Hansen, who finished her career by earning All-America honors at both the indoor and outdoor national championships, placing third at each meet in the pole vault.

Also joining Hansen on the list of honorees are All-Americans Jen Harpp and Amanda Seigworth. Harpp earned All-America honors in the 10,000-meter run at the outdoor meet, while Seigworth earned her first individual All-America accolade in the 400-meter hurdles outdoors.

Allison Smith was named to the All-Academic team after reaching the NCAA national championships in the 400-meter hurdles during the outdoor season.

Laura Berry reached the NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the 10,000-meter run during the outdoor season, while Crystal Burnick posted personal bests to reach provisional marks in the 5,000-meter and 10,000m runs outdoors.

Jayme Stanek posted a provisional qualifier in the 400-meter hurdles outdoors and Kim Goth hit the provisional mark in the javelin outdoors.

Rounding out the list of All-Academic honorees were relay members Abby Michaelian and Caitlin Hancox from the indoor distance medley relay and Tiffany Tedesco and Kaela Snyder from the outdoor 4x400-meter relay.