Three Incarnate Word runners have earned All-American academic honors following their efforts last fall in cross country and for their continuing successes in the classroom.
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) put Howard Gill, Amanda Bishop and Irma Garza on its elite list.
Criteria for the USTFCCCA honors include a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 and the student-athletes must have placed among the top 50 per cent of the national cross country championships or in the top 30 per cent of a regional meet.
While the threesome had good seasons running, their performances in the classroom were impressive. Gill carries a 3.98 GPA while studying biology. He is slated to receive his bachelor's degree in May of 2012 having earned his diploma in just three years. He finished 45th at last fall's NCAA South Central Regional championships.
Bishop has posted a 3.74 GPA studying communication arts. The San Antonio O'Connor product ran 16th in the South Central regional meet.
Garza is from San Antonio St. Anthony High School and after finishing 49th at the South Central meet returned to the classroom to earn a 3.76 GPA in the field of rehabilitative science.
Both Bishop and Garza are freshmen at Incarnate Word.
