USTFCCCA Release

NEW ORLEANS - The Columbia men's cross country team was recognized as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, as announced by the USTFCCCA on Wednesday.

The Lions' men had a combined GPA of 3.19 and Columbia was among 147 schools recognized by the USTFCCCA.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have started at least five runners at their respective NCAA regional championship.

Earlier this month, Columbia junior Mike Murphy and sophomore Nico Composto earned individual All-Academic Cross Country honors from the USTFCCCA.

The Columbia men's team enjoyed one of its finest seasons in program history this past fall, earning its first-ever team bid to the NCAA Championships. Justin Heck, Kyle Merber, Murphy, Leighton Spencer and Composto each earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors after Columbia took third at the NCAA Division I Northeast Regional Cross Country Championships. The Lions finished second at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships and Merber, Murphy, Composto and Ben Veilleux garnered All-Ivy League honors.