NEW ORLEANS – The Colorado School of Mines Men's Cross Country team was named the Scholar Team of the Year late last week as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) announced its academic awards for the 2024 college cross country season.
 
In addition to Mines' men earning Scholar Team of the Year, the Oredigger men and women were honored as 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country All-Academic teams while 11 different Mines runners garnered status as 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country All-Academic Athletes. It marks the fifth time the Oredigger men have claimed the top award after winning it in 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2022. The team's cumulative GPA came in at a 3.6 after they raced to the 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country title in Sacramento, Calif. Their fourth national title in program history.
 
The list of individuals who earned 2024 NCAA Division II Cross Country All-Academic Athlete distinction included Margaux Basart, Logan Bocovich, Max Bonenberger, Dawson Gunn, Lexi Herr, Emily LaMena, Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge, Loic Scomparin, Grace Strongman, Braden Struhs, and Jeremiah Vaille. Individual academic accolades required a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale, and a finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet. Team honors required a team to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0, or better, on a 4.0 scale. That number must include the most recent grading period while the team also recorded a score at their respective regional championship meet.
 
The Orediggers' 2024 cross country season included the aforementioned national title for the men, a fifth-place finish for the women, individual bronze for Ramsey-Rutledge, and a total of seven USTFCCCA All-Americans. With cross country in the books, Mines' distance runners are deep into the indoor track & field season with numerous record-setting and NCAA qualifying times already posted.
 
Fans can keep up with Mines track & field on "X" (formerly Twitter) and Instagram at @csmtrack. They can also keep up with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all year long on Facebook, "X" and Instagram using the handle @MinesAthletics.