NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota junior Abby Ripperda, in addition to the Coyote men's and women's cross country teams have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors as announced by the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Ripperda is one of 165 women to receive recognition from the USTFCCCA, including being one of three from the Summit League. To be eligible for the award, honorees must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and have finished in the top-25 at the NCAA Regionals or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships.
 
A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ripperda is a medical biology major with a 3.79 cumulative grade-point average. Ripperda earned all-Summit League honors with a fourth-place finish at the Summit League Championships and all-region honors with an eighth-place finish at the NCAA Midwest Regional. She clocked a personal best 20:49.9 for 6,000 meters to win the Bradley Classic. Her time of 16:45.5 for 5,000 meters at the Chile Pepper Festival marks the second-fastest time in league history. Ripperda was also named to the Academic All-Summit League team in November.
 
The Coyote women combine for a 3.68 cumulative team GPA which ranks 23rd nationally out of 242 programs. They are one of six Summit League schools to make the list.
 
South Dakota's men hold a 3.10 cumulative team GPA. They are one of four Summit League teams to make the All-Academic list and one of 197 teams overall.
 
To be eligible for All-Academic team status, a program must have a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or higher and have at least five runners start at an NCAA Regional.