NEW ORLEANS, La. - The UC San Diego men's and women's cross country squads were both named 2012 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-Academic Teams. In addition, two Tritons earned individual All-Academic honors from the USTFCCCA. The announcement was made Monday by the USTFCCCA.

Juniors Kellen Levy and Chia Chang were named All-Academic performers for the second consecutive year.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or greater through the most-recent semester, completed at least 12 credit hours in the semester of cross country competition, and placed in the top 50 percent at the most recent NCAA National Championships or in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships.

Levy is a literature/writing major at UCSD's Roosevelt College, while Chang is a double major in economics and mathematics at Marshall College. Chang placed 30th overall in the women's 6k race at the 2012 NCAA West Regional in Hawaii and Levy was 39th in the men's 10k event. Both were the top finishers for the Tritons.

A total of 209 men from 99 institutions and 345 women from 126 schools comprised this season's All-Academic Cross Country Team.

In addition to the individual accolades, UCSD's men's and women's programs were both selected as Division II All-Academic Teams for their collective performances in the classroom. The Triton women had a cumulative team GPA of 3.24, while the men posted a 3.19.

To qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, the team must have had a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or better and have compiled a team score at their respective NCAA regional championship.

The Triton men placed 10th at the 2012 NCAA West Regional, while the women's contingent finished 12th.

Overall this year, 88 schools representing 21 conferences qualified for All-Academic Team honors on the men's side, while 127 institutions from 23 conferences were named on the women's side.

-- UCSDtritons.com --