The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recently announced the 2014 All-Academic track and field teams and individual athletes.
 
The Aurora University women's track and field team was one of 251 NCAA men's and women's teams that earned All-Academic honors. The team ended the season with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.21. 
 
For teams to qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic team, they must have a cumulative GPA of 3.10 or higher and must have competed in at least five different meets.
 
Additionally, four female student-athletes from AU earned All-Academic Track and Field status. Junior Emily Paull, 3.85 GPA in health science, finished eighth in the NCAA Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a school and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference record time of 10:41.54. With finishing eighth, Paull earned NCAA All-American honors, becoming the first Aurora University women's track and field athlete to earn such honors in the schools. Junior Loretta Johnson, 3.52 GPA in business, earned NACC Championships in the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relay; sophomore Jenna Taylor, 3.94 GPA in art, earned a NACC Championship in the high jump; and freshman Lisa Rodriguez, 3.55 GPA in elementary education, received NACC Track Athlete of the Meet and NACC Championships in the 200 meter, 400 meter and 4x100 meter relay.  
 
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and compete in the NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championships or finish the regular season ranked in the national top 35 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 25 in a relay event.