MCC Women Second in Nation Academically

The seven MCC women's cross country runners are pictured in a packa nd taking their first strides at the MCC Invitational at University Park Golf Course

Not only a power on the cross country trails, MCC women’s team is among the nation’s elite in the classroom.

Of the 92 women’s cross teams who compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association, MCC posted the second highest combined grade point average (GPA) this season. The Jayhawks’ 3.711 GPA was a fraction (0.045) behind Spartanburg (S.C.) Methodist College as the best in the U.S.

Five MCC student-athletes on the squad were named Academic All-Americans for earning a 3.40 or higher GPA: sophomores Brielle Johnson (NORTH MUSKEGON HS), Miranda Buckwald (GRAND HAVEN HS), Claudia Melton (GRAND HAVEN HS) and freshmen Sabrina Smith (HART HS) and Deanna Near (MONTAGUE HS).

“It’s pretty awesome that they had a top finish (14th in the nation) at the national meet and that they had the second highest academic grade point of any women’s junior college cross country team in the U.S.,” said MCC Head Coach Dan Fishel. “That’s phenomenal. They are very deserving. Their hard work and dedication paid off. I am very proud to be their coach.”

The top five colleges in the nation are:

1. Spartanburg Methodist College (SC) 3.756
2. Muskegon Community College 3.711
3. New Mexico Junior College 3.696
4. Lansing Community College 3.658
5. Iowa Central CC 3.617