Aug. 2, 2004

COLUMBIA, Mo. - This week the USTCA (U.S. Track Coaches Association) announced the top academic track and field programs for the 2004 winter semester. Missouri was the only school in the nation to have both the men's and women's programs ranked in the top ten in the nation in grade point average. Also announced, of the 17 track and field student-athletes in the nation to post a 4.0 GPA in the winter semester, four came from the University of Missouri, which led the nation.

Four Tigers posted perfect 4.0 GPAs for the winter semester: High jumper and CoSIDA Academic All-American second-teamer Jenny Bybee from Springfield, Mo.; cross country, long-distance runner Serena Ramsey from Waukesha, Wisc.; javelin thrower and graduating senior Gary File from Beloit, Kan.; and two-time All-American shot putter Conrad Woolsey from Excelsior Springs, Mo.

The other schools of the Big 12 added four to the eight total from the conference that were among the 17 in the nation to record the 4.0 GPAs.

The top 10 men's teams with cumulative grade-point averages above 3.0 were Detroit-Mercy (3.32), Quinnipiac (3.30), Richmond (3.26), Davidson (3.20), Syracuse (3.11), Missouri (3.10), Northern Iowa (3.07), Pennsylvania (3.06), Arkansas-Little Rock (3.05) and Utah (3.04).

The top 10 women's teams were Indiana State (3.52), Brigham Young (3.47), Missouri (3.38), Bradley (3.34), Central Michigan (3.33), Wagner (3.33), Vanderbilt (3.30), Marquette (3.30), DePaul (3.28) and Saint Francis (3.28).

For more news on Missouri Track and Field's commitment to academics, visit mutigers.com.