University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Southern Miss Track and Field Receive USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors
7/14/2022 9:49:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – For the second consecutive season, both the men's and women's track and field teams were honored for their work in the classroom by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), while three female student-athletes received individual recognition for their work on the track and in the classroom.
"We place an emphasis in our program on the student part of being a student-athlete," said head coach Jon Stuart. "It's a testament to how hard our kids work on and off the track for both of our teams to be recognized back-to-back season."
The honor continues a streak for the women's team of being named a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team during each year of Stuart's tenure, and 13 consecutive years overall, finishing with a 3.03 GPA.
For the second-straight season, Trinity Benson and Ashlee Osaji picked up individual honors. Benson competed as part of the conference champion 4x100 relay at the NCAA East Preliminary, earning a 3.5 GPA for the term as a marketing major to be named to the Dean's List and AD Honor Roll, while Osaji qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary in both the long and triple jump, earning a 3.3 GPA and a spot on the AD honor roll as a kinesiology major.
The pair were joined by graduate transfer Jordan Speer, who reached the Preliminary in the hammer throw, while achieving a perfect 4.0 GPA as a graduate student in the school of kinesiology in her lone season with the program.
For the second time under Stuart and second-straight year, the men's team earned the distinction for their work in the classroom, as the team finished the year with a 3.00 GPA.
"Trinity and Ashlee earning this honor back-to-back years is just a testament to how hard those two young ladies work," concluded Stuart. "I'm so proud of them and Jordan for exemplifying what it means to be a student-athlete."
Players Mentioned
