NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recently announced its postseason academic awards for the 2021 cross country season and the Navy men's and women's programs were both acknowledged for their prowess in the classroom. Additionally, Elizabeth Sullivan (Jr., Portsmouth, R.I.) was recognized as an All-Academic Athlete for her success in competition at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championship and academically at the Naval Academy. 

To be eligible for the USTFCCCA All-Academic individual award, a student-athlete needed to have a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and to have finished in the top-25 at their respective NCAA Regional Championship. The USTFCCCA All-Academic team award requires programs to have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater for their roster.

Sullivan highlighted the list of honors for the Navy women's cross country program as she was named a USTFCCCA All-Academic individual award winner. Leading the Mids' effort at the regional championship at Lehigh University in November, Sullivan placed 25th of 193 runners in the deep and talented field. Away from competition, Sullivan is a chemistry major with a cumulative 3.93 GPA through five semesters at the United States Naval Academy. She was one of 114 women from 58 different institutions who were named All-Academic Athletes for their efforts during the 2021 season. As a program under the guidance of head coach Kim Lewnes, Navy had a cumulative 3.29 GPA following the conclusion of the fall semester. The Mids are one of 168 NCAA DI women's cross country squads to have received the USTFCCCA All-Academic team honor. Both Sullivan and senior Maddie Warrender (Mount Wolf, Pa.) were previously selected to the Patriot League All-Academic Team in November.

On the men's side, Aaron Lanzel's squad was one of 150 NCAA DI men's cross country programs to garner USTFCCCA All-Academic team accolades. Across its 44-man roster, Navy's cumulative GPA at the conclusion of the fall semester was 3.37. Led by the 2021 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Brett Brady (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.), three Mids were named to the this year's Patriot League All-Academic Team. Seniors Ashwin Briggs (Pickerington, Ohio) and John Bowers (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) also garnered honors from the conference.