TRK | Gordon, Men’s and Women’s Team’s Honored by USTFCCCA
7/14/2023 9:30:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
NEW ORLEANS, La. - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Associations (USTFCCCA) have honored Saint Mary's and Penelopea Gordon on their annual Track and Field All-Academic team.
To make the All-Academic list, teams need a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period. Athletes needed a 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period and have participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The SMC men finished with a 3.43 combined GPA, with the women's side just besting the men with a combined 3.34 GPA. The University of South Alabama men and women had the highest overall GPA's as they both finished at 3.81. The University of Arkansas claimed the National Scholar Team of the Year on both the men's and women's sides.
Individual honors for the Gaels belonged to freshman Penelopea Gordon, who lit the track alight during her first season in Moraga. Gordon exploded onto the scene, competing at the NCAA First Round in the 800m.
The Rochester, Minnesota native became the first freshman Gael in program history to qualify for the NCAA West First Round, doing so in the 800m.
Gordon's stock has been on the rise since early in the season, when she finished seventh overall in the 600m at the UW Preview indoor meet on January 14. Since then, her times keep dropping, and her finishes keep improving. She first ran the 800m as a Gael at the Mike Fanelli Classic and posted a time of 2:17.32. Over her last three attempts, however, she has shaved over 10 seconds off that time, culminating in a 2:07.27 at the Portland Distance Carnival last weekend. That time is the second-fastest 800m time in Saint Mary's history, and she finished third in the event behind an Olympic bronze medalist and an All-American.
With rapid improvement and a personal best time that lands her inside the top-20 fastest freshman in the country, Gordon will surely be back to break more records when the track season begins once again next spring.
The Gaels will be hard at work this summer with the cross-country season fast approaching in the fall. They're sure to continue succeeding in and out of the classroom when the first races begin in just a few months' time.
#GaelsRise
To make the All-Academic list, teams need a 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period. Athletes needed a 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period and have participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The SMC men finished with a 3.43 combined GPA, with the women's side just besting the men with a combined 3.34 GPA. The University of South Alabama men and women had the highest overall GPA's as they both finished at 3.81. The University of Arkansas claimed the National Scholar Team of the Year on both the men's and women's sides.
Individual honors for the Gaels belonged to freshman Penelopea Gordon, who lit the track alight during her first season in Moraga. Gordon exploded onto the scene, competing at the NCAA First Round in the 800m.
The Rochester, Minnesota native became the first freshman Gael in program history to qualify for the NCAA West First Round, doing so in the 800m.
Gordon's stock has been on the rise since early in the season, when she finished seventh overall in the 600m at the UW Preview indoor meet on January 14. Since then, her times keep dropping, and her finishes keep improving. She first ran the 800m as a Gael at the Mike Fanelli Classic and posted a time of 2:17.32. Over her last three attempts, however, she has shaved over 10 seconds off that time, culminating in a 2:07.27 at the Portland Distance Carnival last weekend. That time is the second-fastest 800m time in Saint Mary's history, and she finished third in the event behind an Olympic bronze medalist and an All-American.
With rapid improvement and a personal best time that lands her inside the top-20 fastest freshman in the country, Gordon will surely be back to break more records when the track season begins once again next spring.
The Gaels will be hard at work this summer with the cross-country season fast approaching in the fall. They're sure to continue succeeding in and out of the classroom when the first races begin in just a few months' time.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track and Field
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