LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its fall academic awards this week and Biola's cross country teams led the PacWest Conference.

Head Coach Sean Henning's squads not only lead the conference competitively, with four podium finishes and two championships in the last two years, but now they lead the way academically as well.

The Eagles had five student-athletes honored as NCAA Division II Cross Country All-Academic athletes and both teams were honored as All-Academic teams. The team GPAs of 3.47 (women) and 3.21 (men) were good enough to land among the 268 teams in NCAA Division II to earn All-Academic recognition.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period and compile a team score at their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.

The individual honorees were Jared Donnel, Gabe Plendcio, Ryan St. Pierre on the men's side and Grace Catena and Mackenna Mason on the women's side.

Overall there were over 650 student-athletes to earn the award at the NCAA Division II level. The Eagles led the PacWest Conference with their five individual honors.

In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.