Maitland Named to PBC Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team

2009 PBC Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team

AUGUSTA, Ga. - USC Aiken's Nicole Maitland was selected to the 2009 Peach Belt Conference Women's Cross Country All-Academic team on Tuesday, Dec. 8. The team was released from the league office.

Maitland is now a two-time winner of the award as she was also named to the PBC All-Academic team after the 2008 season.

A second team PBC All-Academic selection in 2009, Maitland is a three-time All-Peach Belt Conference selection. The junior finished 11^th at the 2009 PBC Cross Country Championship to earn her third straight all-league plaudit.

A two-time USC Aiken Cross Country Most Valuable Runner award recipient, Maitland(Chapin, S.C./Chapin) finished in the top two among Pacer finishers in every event in 2009. She picked up her best finish with a fifth place finish at the 2009 Wingate Invitational.

In 2008, Maitland claimed the Presbyterian College Blue Hose Invitational with a school record 5K time of 19:47.

In the classroom, Maitland currently owns a 3.27 grade point average as an Elementary Education major.

The team is part of a season-long program recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of PBC student-athletes in the classroom as well as on the field. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, a student-athlete must 1) participate in at least half of his/her team's events and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) and 3) completed at least one full academic year at his or her current institution. The Peach Belt Conference Sports Information Directors oversee and select the teams.

Founded in 1991, the Peach Belt Conference is home to 28 NCAA Division II National Championships. 13 member institutions in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama compete in 13 championship sports. 2009-10 members are Augusta State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clayton State University, Columbus State University, Flagler College, Francis Marion University, Georgia College & State University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Lander University, University of Montevallo, North Georgia College & State University, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the University of South Carolina Aiken.