by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College women's cross country team has claimed United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team honors for the 30th consecutive season.
The Flying Dutch, led by head coach Mark Northus, continued their excellence in the classroom and recorded a 3.6 team grade point average.
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. There were 212 teams in NCAA Division III who received honor.
Hope finished 27th at the NCAA Championships in November.
The Flying Dutch landed an at-large berth to nationals after finishing fourth in the Great Lakes Region.
Earlier in the fall, Hope also claimed its 11th MIAA title overall and fifth in a row, the longest streak in team history.
Five Hope student-athletes earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Individual honors: seniors Rebecca Duran, Anna Frazee and Chelsea Miskelley, junior Jacinda Cole and freshman Ana Tucker.
