South Hadley, Mass. - July 20, 2020 - After an impressive 2019-20 season for the Mount Holyoke College track and field team, the Lyons were recipients of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Team Academic Award, producing a cumulative grade-point average of 3.63 at year's end.
The Lyons were one of 209 institutions from Division III to collect the USTFCCCA Team Academic Award, which was honored to those programs that produced cumulative team GPA's of 3.1 or better through the completion of the most recent grading period (Spring 2020 semester).
Additionally, standout juniors Madeline Rieders (Wellesley, Mass.) and Hannah Rieders (Wellesley, Mass.) were recognized individually, as they were named NCAA Division III All-Academic Athletes after producing great results both on the track and in the classroom. Overall, there were 477 women from 123 institutions who were named All-Academic Athletes.
In order to be named an NCAA Division III All-Academic Athlete, an individual must produce a cumulative grade-point average of 3.3 or better, and must have finished the indoor season among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. The Rieders' were ranked in a tie for No. 6 nationally in the women's 5k, and were set to represent Mount Holyoke College at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships before they were cancelled in March.
The Rieders led the Lyons on the track all season long, as they both earned USTFCCCA All-America honors in the women's 5k for their efforts. Additionally, the duo received Division III All-Region accolades after posting Top 8 finishes in the women's 5k at the Division III New England Championships this past February.
They were also the first student-athletes at Mount Holyoke College to earn both All-America honors and USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes in the same season since Langhan Dee '04 accomplished this during the 2003-04 season.
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