NEW ORLEANS — Six Washington and Lee University men's cross country student-athletes were named 2025 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country All-Academic Athletes, while the Generals also earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team recognition, as announced Thursday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Washington and Lee posted a 3.75 cumulative team GPA, ranking seventh nationally among Division III men's programs — the highest academic finish in program history. The Generals were led by head coach Brandon Spalding, who guided the program through one of its most successful seasons both academically and competitively.
To earn All-Academic Athlete distinction, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 and finish in the top 25 percent of their respective NCAA regional championship.
The following Generals received individual All-Academic honors:
The academic accolades cap a historic 2025 campaign for Washington and Lee, highlighted by the program's first ODAC Championship since 2019, a NCAA South Regional title, and the best finish at the NCAA Championships in program history, placing inside the national top 20.
The Generals claimed the ODAC crown behind a dominant performance from Sam Daunt, who won the individual conference championship and was named Runner of the Meet, while Robert Cooper finished second overall. Washington and Lee placed eight runners on the All-ODAC teams, and Keaton Rush was honored as the ODAC Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
At the regional level, W&L captured its first NCAA South Region title since 1995, totaling 39 points to secure the automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championships. Spalding was named USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year, as the Generals produced six All-Region runners during the postseason.
Nestled in the mountains of Virginia, Washington and Lee University is a proud member of NCAA Division III and the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. Founded in 1749, W&L is the ninth-oldest college in the United States and a top-ranked liberal arts university. With over 500 student-athletes in 24 varsity sports, the Generals have celebrated over 265 conference championships. Learn more about the Blue and White by visiting www.generalssports.com or on social media at @WLUGenerals.
