Feb. 6, 2007

METAIRIE, La. - Not only was the 2006 season a success athletically for the West Florida men's and women's cross country teams, it was also successful in the classroom. The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recently named both squads to the USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Teams. Brian Gowin (Pensacola, Fla./Pine Forest HS) and Lauren Brooks (Westlake, Ohio/Westlake HS) also received 2006 NCAA Division II All-Academic honors.

The West Florida men's team was one of 57 schools to earn all-academic team honors, while the women's squad was one of 91 schools that received all-academic recognition. To qualify as an USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, the student-athletes on the NCAA squad list must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 or higher. The West Florida men tallied a 3.11 GPA, while the Argonaut women posted a 3.67 GPA.

Gowin collected his first NCAA Division II All-Academic honor. The Pensacola native was named to the 2006 Fall Academic All-Gulf South Conference Team after recording a 3.30 GPA in accounting. Gowin earned his first All-GSC honor by finishing ninth at the GSC Championships. Two weeks later, he posted the eighth-fastest 10K time in school history (32:52) while finishing 14th at the NCAA Division II South Region Championships.

Brooks was also named to her first NCAA II All-Academic Team. The senior recorded a 3.77 GPA in molecular biology to earn 2006 Fall Academic All-GSC Team recognition. Brooks was the first Argonaut finisher in all seven races and earned All-GSC Second Team honors at the GSC Championships. Brooks finished the season with a 26th place finish at the 6K NCAA Division II South Region Championships.

To qualify for Division II All-Academic honors, student-athletes must have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 (on 4.0 scale) and finish in the top 30 percent at the regional cross country championships.