FLORENCE, S.C. – The Francis Marion University women’s cross country team has been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) list of All-Academic Teams for the 2010 season. This is the second consecutive year the FMU women have garnered national academic recognition.

The Patriot women compiled a 3.18 cumulative grade point average, up slightly from the previous year. The Francis Marion squad is under the guidance of head coach Mark Bluman, who recently concluded his 10th year at FMU.

The year’s roster consisted of freshman London Barnhill (Hemingway, SC), senior Amanda Booker (Florence, SC), freshman Charity Hawkins (Woodruff, SC), freshman LaMeisha Jackson (Warrenville, SC), junior Samantha Smith (Lexington, SC), and freshman Whitney Wagner (Cullowhee, NC).

The USTFCCCA recognized 107 women’s squads nationwide. Francis Marion was one of six women’s teams from the Peach Belt Conference to be honored.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Championship and also have a minimum 3.00 team cumulative GPA.

FMU placed 10th at the Peach Belt Conference championships and 25th at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional meet.

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