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PHILADELPHIA – Stephanie Bearish, Wendy Hutchinson, and Meghan McGlinchey have been named All-Academic Performers by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced today. In addition, the La Salle women's cross country program earned All-Academic status after posting a cumulative 3.33 GPA for the fall semester.

“To have three women earn All-Academic status is tremendous,” head coach Dan Ireland said. “To this point, La Salle has had a total of six women earn this recognition and to have three earn it in one year is great. All three of these women are student-athletes in the true sense of the word.”

Bearish, a graduate student, has notched a 3.84 GPA as an audiology/technology major after sporting a 3.73 GPA as an undergraduate student. The Coopersburg, Pa. native was the second Explorer woman to cross the finish line at the Atlantic 10 Championships, placing 10^th with an 18:08.0 (5K). With the finish, Bearish achieved all-conference recognition for the third time in her career.

Hutchinson, who posted a 3.80 GPA as an undergraduate student, carries a 3.96 GPA in her graduate studies. The Dover, Pa. native was named Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Performer of the year for Women's Cross Country. She has also been recognized as an Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference performer for two consecutive years. The graduate student placed 12^th at the A-10 Cross Country Championships, clocking an 18:18.6 (5K) to aid the Explorer's second place team finish. With her placement, Hutchinson earned all-conference status for the second straight season.

McGlinchey has amassed a 3.41 GPA as Speech Language Hearing Science major. The senior earned Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area recognition in the fall after completing one of the most decorated individual cross country seasons in program history. The West Deptford, N.J. native placed second at the 2012 A-10 Cross Country Championships, crossing the finish line at 17:03.3 (5K), shattering the previous course record. McGlinchey went on to finish second (215-runner field) at the Mid-Atlantic Regional before becoming the first Explorer woman to compete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships since Rachel Papin in 2007. She was recently recognized at the 109^th annual Philadelphia Sports Writers Banquet for her outstanding achievements.

The Explorers boasted three of the A-10's five recipients for the award, with the others coming from Butler and Richmond.

As a team, the La Salle women sport the highest GPA (3.33) of any women's cross country program in Philadelphia. The Blue and Gold also added 18 runners to the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll List.