by Alan Babbitt
The Hope College women's cross country team, as well as six Flying Dutch student-athletes, have earned national academic honors from the United States Track and Field Cross Coaches Association for the 2021 season.
Hope was named one of 163 USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams after recording a 3.72 team grade point average.
Individually, six Flying Dutch received All-Academic distinction: senior education major Jacinda Cole (Holland, Michigan / West Ottawa), junior communication major Ellie Jankowski (Granger, Indiana / Penn), junior accounting major Anna Mason of Zeeland, Michigan (Libertas Christian), junior exercise science major Ana Tucker (Midland, Michigan H.H. Dow), junior mathematics major Heleyna Tucker (Midland, Michigan. H.H. Dow), and sophomore engineering major Rebecca Markham (Hoffman Estates, Illinois / Fremd).
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.
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 203 individuals from 105 institutions honored.
Led by head coach Mark Northuis, the Flying Dutch finished eighth at the NCAA Division III national championships, claimed a Great Lakes Regional title and earned their sixth consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association this fall.
Hope has been chosen as an USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for all 32 seasons since the award program began.
