After one of the most successful freshman seasons in Mizzou cross country history, Kaitie Vanatta (Littleton, Colo.) added another award to her résumé on Tuesday (March 2) as she earned US Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Honors for the first time in her career. She was one of 104 student-athletes, representing 57 colleges and universities, to earn the award this season. Not only was Vanatta one of 104 honorees, but she was one of only nine student-athletes on the list to compile a 4.00 grade-point-average as she is majoring in middle school education in her first year at Mizzou.

The award honors student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA and must have placed among the top 15 finishers (or top 10-percent) at their respective NCAA Regional Championships. In Vanatta's case, she did just that after earning All-Midwest Regional honors with an eighth-place finish at the Midwest Regional Championships back in November.

The All-Academic honor is just another award for Vanatta who continues to pile them up after her first season donning the black and gold. In the field of competition, Vanatta earned All-Big 12 and All-Midwest Regional honors and was an NCAA National qualifier in 2009. She became the program's second-ever freshman All-Big 12 honoree and the first to do so since 2002 after earning 11th-place overall at the Big 12 Championships. She was also the Tigers' first All-Big 12 honoree on either the men's or women's side since 2006 and was named Big 12 Runner of the Week on Sept. 15, 2009, for the first time in her career.

The award just adds to the list of academic success that the track and field/cross country program has compiled under the direction of head coach Rick McGuire.