UW-Platteville's track and field teams earned national academic honors, the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced.

The Pioneer men, which had a cumulative grade-point average of 3.028, was one of 56 NCAA III programs to earn the award. The UWP women, who recorded a 3.125 g.p.a., earned one of 92 spots on the national honor roll.

The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Scholar Teams of the Year award is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievements. To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade point average.

"We were real pleased," Pioneer Track and Field Coach Jim Nickasch said. "It keeps in line with the tradition we have built here. Last year, the men were the national academic team of the year. The kids do a real nice job, and they work really hard. They're very conscientious of the tradition and the honors."

The USTFCCCA also announced the 2008 NCAA Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team. To qualify, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and met the NCAA Division III Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

The women's list featured Pioneers Alison Ross (German Valley, IL/Forreston), Jessica Scott (Kiel), and Marcia Taddy (Two Rivers), while the men's honorees included Scott Howard (Princeton, IL), Anthony Kilburg (Bellevue, IA), Cameron Klein (Monroe), and Mitch Spees (Poynette).