CEDAR CITY, Utah - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) have announced their All-Academic honorees, and the Thunderbird women's track and field team, along with male athlete Hayden Hawks, earned the prestigious designation of All-Academic.

As a team the women's squad had a grade point average (GPA) of 3.2, which was high enough for the entire team to be honored as an All-Academic Team. With several newcomers to the women's track and field team in the past couple years, they are not only showing improvements on the track and in the field, but also showing excellence in the classroom.

“When you consider that they train year round and put in so much hard work, to be one of the best in country in the classroom speaks to the type of girls we're attracting to Southern Utah,” SUU head coach Eric Houle said. “It's something that our coaching staff and the athletic department are very proud of.  

Hawks, who just recently wrapped up his senior campaign at SUU, was given the honor of All-Academic as an individual. For an individual to be eligible they must have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have competed in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships, which Hawks did to close out the outdoor season.

“This is a great honor for Hayden to cap off his career here,” Houle said. “To have the strength on the track and in the classroom is very impressive, and as coaches those are the guys we all want.”

In his final season as a T-Bird, Hawks earned the title of All-American during the cross country season and represented the T-Birds at the NCAA West Regional in Lawrence, Kansas.