Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Hessler, Earl Earn CSC Academic All-District Honors
6/18/2024 2:35:00 PM | Women's Cross Country & Track
Both members of duo recognized for second consecutive season
EVANSTON, Ill. (June 18, 2024) – Katherine Hessler (Grand Rapids, Mich./East Grand Rapids) and Ava Earl (Girdwood, Alaska/South Anchorage), both members of the Northwestern University women's cross country team, have been selected as Academic All-District honorees, it was announced on Tuesday morning by the College Sports Communicators (CSC). This marks the second consecutive season that both have been recognized by the organization.
Hessler, an English and Global Health Studies double major, put together an outstanding cross country season this past fall. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native set new 5k and 6k personal bests before earning First Team All-Big Ten distinction following a fifth-place finish (21:10.0) at the Big Ten Championships. She went on to close the campaign with a 13th-place showing (20:47.6) at the NCAA Midwest Regional, securing All-Region honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
During the Wildcats' track season, Hessler clocked a new 5,000m run personal best, finishing in 16:41.26 at the Penn Relays.
Earl added another chapter to an impressive Northwestern career in 2023-24. An English and Political Science double major, Earl collected her second straight All-Region nod from the USTFCCCA, placing eighth (20:42.3) at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Girdwood, Alaska native advanced on to the NCAA Championships, where she ran 20:24.9 to take 64th, the second-best placement by a Wildcat at the national meet in program history.
Earl continued to excel on the track, breaking program records in both the 1,500m run and 5,000m run during the Wildcats' outdoor slate.
In order to be considered for CSC Academic All-District honors, a student-athlete had to be of at least sophomore status with a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average and must rank in the top 50 in their region in an event.
Hessler, an English and Global Health Studies double major, put together an outstanding cross country season this past fall. The Grand Rapids, Mich. native set new 5k and 6k personal bests before earning First Team All-Big Ten distinction following a fifth-place finish (21:10.0) at the Big Ten Championships. She went on to close the campaign with a 13th-place showing (20:47.6) at the NCAA Midwest Regional, securing All-Region honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
During the Wildcats' track season, Hessler clocked a new 5,000m run personal best, finishing in 16:41.26 at the Penn Relays.
Earl added another chapter to an impressive Northwestern career in 2023-24. An English and Political Science double major, Earl collected her second straight All-Region nod from the USTFCCCA, placing eighth (20:42.3) at the NCAA Midwest Regional. The Girdwood, Alaska native advanced on to the NCAA Championships, where she ran 20:24.9 to take 64th, the second-best placement by a Wildcat at the national meet in program history.
Earl continued to excel on the track, breaking program records in both the 1,500m run and 5,000m run during the Wildcats' outdoor slate.
In order to be considered for CSC Academic All-District honors, a student-athlete had to be of at least sophomore status with a minimum 3.50 cumulative grade-point average and must rank in the top 50 in their region in an event.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
/ Women's Cross Country & Track
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