NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Portland women's cross country program earned a 2020 NCAA Division I All-Academic Team Award, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced on Thursday. The Pilots posted a stunning 3.75 team cumulative grade-point average, highest among all teams that competed at this year's NCAA Cross Country Championships.
 
Six runners on the squad also garnered individual All-Academic awards as Veerle Bakker, Sofia Castiglioni, Stella Gillman, Emma Jenkins, Anna Pataki and Victoria Weir were recognized.
 
 "This is really what our program is all about, achieving at a high level both academically and athletically," said head coach Ian Solof. "I am so proud of our athletes for this accomplishment. They work incredibly hard and this is proof of their focus and dedication."
 
Overall, there were 233 women's teams and 269 individuals earned Division I All-Academic honors. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Individuals must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and have either qualified for the national championship meet or finished top-5 at their respective conference championship.

The Pilot women's team qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships for the third time in program history and placed 22nd at the national meet. Castiglioni was also honored with the NCAA Elite 90 award which is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average that participates at the NCAA championships. 
 
Portland Individual Women's Cross Country USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes
Veerle Bakker, Engineering Master's, 4.00        
Sofia Castiglioni, Biology, 4.00 
Stella Gillman, Biology, 3.52
Emma Jenkins, Elementary Ed, 3.57
Anna Pataki, Marketing, 3.75
Victoria Weir, MBA Nonprofit Mgmt, 3.93