GORHAM, Maine – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' women's cross country team has been named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team for the 2024 season. Additionally, sophomore Gwen Catalano (Buxton, Maine/Bonny Eagle) earned All-Academic Athlete status based on a combination of her performance at November's regional championship meet and her academic success.
 
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers. All-Academic Athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top 25 percent of their respective regional championship meet. The Huskies posted a 3.37 GPA as a team.
 
Catalano placed 50th at the NCAA Division III East Region Cross Country Championships with a time of 23:47.7 in the 6k. The cutoff for the award was the top 58. She also earned Second Team All-Little East Conference honors after placing eighth at the conference championship meet. Catalano is majoring in Health Sciences with an Occupational Therapy Accelerated Degree Pathway.
 
The Huskies placed 22nd as a team at regionals and finished fifth at the LEC Championships. The Southern Maine women's cross country program has been an All-Academic Team every season since 2013. The team had four runners, graduate student Eliza Bureau (Westbrook, Maine), junior Alexis Karantza (Westbrook, Maine), junior AnnMarie Limberger (Vassalboro, Maine/Waterville) and junior Anabel Melanson (West Warren, Mass./Quaboag), earn LEC All-Academic honors for the 2024 season.