George and Evering Repeat as USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Members

STORRS, Conn. (August 7, 2008) - University of Connecticut women's track and field standouts, Phylicia George (Markham, Ont.) and Alyssa Evering (Bel Air, Md.), have been selected to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) 2008 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. This is the second straight year that both have earned this honor.

This year, 468 student-athletes representing 140 Division I institutions made the 2008 All-Academic list, including two universities with 13 individuals that made the cut. In order to qualify for this honor, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and meet either the NCAA Division I Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standards.

George, a physiology and neurobiology major, was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team in June. She was one of 10 individuals chosen for the team, announced by CoSIDA. George held a 3.90 GPA at UConn and is a two-time NCAA Regional qualifier in sprinting and relay events. This past year, George ran the third fastest time in school history with a 13.88 time in the 100 meter hurdles. In the 4x200 meter relay she led the Huskies to the best finish in school history as the group took sixth place with a time of 1:36.36 at the Penn Relays.

Evering, a sports management major with a business minor, also repeated as a USTFCCCA team member. With the two being honored, it marks the fifth consecutive year that the women's cross country team has received the team award along with track and field receiving recognition from 2005-07.

"Phylicia and Alyssa certainly present qualities that our program hopes all of our student-athletes will emulate," said UConn head coach Bill Morgan. "To perform at nationally recognized levels in the classroom and on the track, great recognition is brought to our program and to their individual efforts."

 -UCONN-