NEW ORLEANS, La. – Missouri State cross country team earns All-Academic Team status by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), while senior Jessica Allen was named to the team as an individual, the association announced Friday (Feb. 9).

Allen paced the Bears in the Missouri Valley Conference Championship where she finished in third place overall. Claiming All-MVC honors with a 17:22.06 5K time. Allen also earned All-Region honors, first for MSU since 2010, a new personal best time and the third fastest 6K in school history (20:47.8).

Off the field Allen holds a 3.98 grade-point average in Cell and Molecular Biology.

MSU combined for a 3.58 cumulative grade point average during the 2017 season. This is the third-consecutive year that the Bears have earned this distinction.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship.
In order to qualify as an individual, athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finish in the top-25 (or 10 percent) at regionals or as an All-American in the national meet.

For more information on the Missouri State cross country team, visit MissouriStateBears.com or visit the team Twitter @MSUBearsTrackXC and Facebook.