NEW ORLEANS ? The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association has released its 2008 Division I All-Academic Team honors and both the Idaho men's and women's track and field squads were among the teams honored.

The Vandal women's team earned the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team distinction for the second year in a row, while the men's team earned it for the first time. The women had a cumulative GPA of 3.19, while the men finished with 3.01 as a team. Additionally, six Idaho athletes were honored on the individual All-Academic Team.

Five women's athletes earned the distinction, with four being repeat honorees. Allix Lee-Painter, Christie Gordon, K.C. Dahlgren and Melinda Owen were all named to the team last year, while true freshman Gabby Midles earned her first such honor. Owen was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team earlier this year. Thrower James Rogan repeated as an All-Academic honoree to represent the Vandal men.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in his or her respective event.

A team that earns the All-Academic recognition must carry a 3.0 cumulative GPA.

The Vandal men's team was one of just four top-25 indoor teams to make the list and one of just five top-25 outdoor teams. Idaho and the University of Washington were the only two teams to finish in the top 25 both indoors and outdoors and be named to the list.

In addition to the track & field honor, both men's and women's cross country also earned the team distinction earlier this year. For the women, it was three straight seasons and it was back-to-back for the men.

More information about All-Academic teams, as well as complete lists, is available at www.ustfccca.com.