NEW ORLEANS, La. - Three Alaska Nanooks were named to the USTFCCCA Cross Country All-Academics Team.

Overall, there were 357 women and 104 different institutions who were named All-Academic Athletes for their efforts in the 2021 season. In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30% of their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers. 

Naomi Bailey, Rosie Fordham and Kendall Kramer were all named to the All-Academic list. Bailey is a freshman from Fairbanks who is studying Emergency Medical Services. Fordham is a freshman from Sydney, Australia who is studying Chemistry and Kendall Kramer is a freshman from Fairbanks who is studying Psychology. All three runners qualified as individuals for the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Tampa, Fla. Fordham was the highest finisher for the Nanooks and was the highest GNAC women's runner, taking home 61st place, the best ever for Alaska women's cross country. 

Kramer finished close behind, placing 72nd and Bailey came across the line at 174th. The trio impressed all season, as Fordham was named the GNAC Freshman of the Year after placing second at the GNAC Championships while Kramer took third and Bailey followed in fourth. After the conference race, the three traveled to the NCAA West Regionals and Fordham took fourth, Kramer took fifth and Bailey took sixth; this gave all three All-West Region honors before their season ended at St. Leo University for the NCAA Championships. 

Graduate-assistant coach Josh Sanderlin was proud of the season these three had and what they were able to accomplish in the classroom through it all, "I'm certainly proud of what they were able to accomplish. A lot of people look at cross country and assume good grades just come with it, but just like anybody else, it takes a lot of work. Our program prioritized academic excellence and Kendall, Naomi and Rosie have done a fine job championing our ideals."

Complete list of 2021 All-Academic Honors

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks cross country teams, follow @Alaska_XC on Instagram, or like the Alaska Nanooks XC team page on Facebook.