WINONA, Minn. — Samantha Kubes (New Prague, Minn.) and Caroline Gearin (Osceola, Wis.) were recognized for their exceptional performances on the field of competition — and in the classroom — on Thursday, as the Saint Mary's University duo earned All-Academic status by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association.
 
In order to receive USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must reach the following criteria:
    • Own a inimum cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale through the most recently completed grading period, while meeting one of the following athletic components:
       *Must have finished the indoor or outdoor seasons among the top 50 individuals as listed on the descending order lists on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 50, but who participated at the Indoor or Outdoor National Championships, are eligible.
       *Must have competed as a member of one of the top 35 relay teams as listed on the indoor and outdoor descending order list on TFRRS. In addition, any athletes not among the top 35 relay teams, but who participated in the relay at the Indoor or Outdoor National Championships, are eligible. Finally, any competing relay team member on an expanded descending order list to include 35 institutions (1 relay team per institution) is eligible.
 
The Cardinal men's and women's teams, meanwhile, were also recognized by the USTFCCCA, earning All-Academic Honors. The SMU women boasting an impressive 3.74 cumulative GPA, while the Cardinal men boasted a 3.29 GPA.
 
Here is the criteria used by the USTFCCCA for being named an NCAA Division III All-Academic Team:
    • Have a cumulative team GPA (not 2022-23 academic year, not semester) of all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility must be at least a 3.1 on a 4.0 scale through the most recent semester/quarter, computed by the following method: 
       * Total the cumulative number of semester hours or quarter hours earned for all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
       * Total the cumulative number of quality points (GPA multiplied by the number of credit hours) earned by all student-athletes who used a season of eligibility, including the most recent grading period;
       * Divide the cumulative number of quality points earned by the cumulative number of semester or quarter hours earned.

The USTFCCCA honors are the latest for the SMU track and field teams, who boasted XX members — Gearin, Kubes, Sydney Jackman (Litchfield, Minn.), Kendra Klobe (Glencoe, Minn.), Abrianna Utgaard (Star Prairie, Minn.), Amanda Tuvey (West St. Paul, Minn.), Abbie Meyer (Sauk Centre, Minn.), Gabe Bickerstaff (Rollingstone, Minn.) and Cade Kloss (Apple Valley, Minn.) — named Academic All-MIAC in June, while Gearin, Jackman, Kubes, Bickerstaff, Isaiah Brindamour, and Emily Kern (Buffalo, Minn.) also collected College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® honors this summer.