VERMILLION, S.D. -- The University of South Dakota women's track and field team has received an Academic All-American Award from the United States Track Coaches Association (USCTA). This is the seventh time in the last nine years the Coyotes have been recognized nationally for academic success by the USTCA. The team must carry a grade point average above 3.00 to be considered.

"We are extremely proud of this grand accomplishment by the women's track team. We had a 3.31 team Cumulative GPA with 10 women achieving Academic All-American status," said USD head women's coach Lucky Huber. "This is a tribute to their hard work both on and off the field."

To earn Academic All-American status, individuals must have provisionally qualified for nationals while maintaining a 3.25 cumulative grade point average. The USD All-Americans included Susan Chamberlain, 3.46 GPA, shot put, Earling, Iowa; Jamie Davis, 3.71 GPA, pole vault indoor and outdoor, Colton, S.D.; Amanda Dykstra, indoor 60-meters, 3.96 GPA, Yankton, S.D.; Emily Fox, 3.92 GPA, indoor and outdoor 4x400-meter relay, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Sarah Hoffman, 3.71 GPA, indoor hurdles and outdoor heptathlon and hurdles, Mitchell, S.D.; Kassandra Laber, 3.71 GPA, outdoor 4x400-meter relay, Parkston, S.D.; Marci Miller, 3.83 GPA, indoor and outdoor pole vault, Rapid City, S.D.; Kassidi Myrick, 3.27 GPA, indoor weight throw and outdoor hammer throw, Winner, S.D.; Meghan Reifenrath, 4.0 GPA, indoor and outdoor 4x400-meter relay, Rock Rapids, Iowa; and Brianne Vette, 3.96 GPA, indoor long jump and triple jump and outdoor heptathlon, 100m hurdles and jumps, Spearfish, S.D.

The women's team placed seventh overall (25 points) at the NCAA Outdoor Division II Track and Field Championships held last May at Edwardsville, Ill. At the indoor championships at Boston, Mass., this winter, USD was ninth (17.5 points). USD finished second at both the indoor and outdoor NCC championships.