Richmond Track & Field Garners Eighth-Straight USTFCCCA Academic Team Honors

Individually, four Spiders earned mention as USTFCCCA Scholar Athletes.

Matt Llano, 2010 NCAA All-American 10K Runner,
led the Spider Men's Team to their 8th Consecutive
NCAA DI All-Academic Team Honor

August 6, 2010

By Mike DeGeorge-University of Richmond SID

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - For the eighth-consecutive year, the University of Richmond men's and women's track & field squads have earned mention from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association as NCAA Division-I All-Academic Teams. In addition, the men's team held the highest GPA of any D-I program in Virginia.

Individually, Matt Llano, Dana Guglielmo, Meaghan McGovern and Julie Rechel (See photo LEFT) earned the USTFCCCA's Academic Award. To qualify on the Scholar-Athlete Team, a student-athlete must have compiled at least a 3.25 GPA and meet the NCAA automatic, provisional or regional standard for their event(s).

Llano, who was an All-America performer at the NCAA National Championship thanks to his ninth-place finish in the 10,000m, will finish his undergraduate career as a triple major this year. Llano holds the highest overall GPA among all male student-athletes within his class at Richmond.

"Once again, we are very proud of our athletes and their efforts in the classroom," said head men's coach Steve Taylor. "We place this on our list of goals every year and our athletes work hard to achieve this honor. As a staff we expect them to be here to earn their education with track & field a close second. They understand these priorities. We have witnessed over the years that achieving success in the classroom compliments success within the sport of track & field. This award shows these athletes know how to prioritize in both areas academics and athletics at an amazingly high level."

The three individual honorees on the women's side led all Atlantic 10 programs, while Rechel holds the highest overall GPA among female student-athletes within her class at Richmond.

"Our teams have established a tradition of achieving All-Academic Team honors," said women's head coach Lori Taylor. "As coaches, we are also educators first and know our athletes are here for their degree programs. Richmond is a great school and our athletes choose the University of Richmond because they know they will have the opportunities for a great educational and athletic experience."

The Spider men's and women's cross country teams earned similar honors this fall from the USTFCCCA.