DeFusco and Jardine Receive USTFCCCA Academic Accolades

Kutztown University's men's and women's track and field teams were honored as 2024 NCAA Division II All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while men's team members Anthony DeFusco and Joe Jardine added All-Academic Athlete recognition.

To qualify for All-Academic Team status, a program must have a cumulative GPA for all student-athletes of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Led by head coach Ray Hoffman, the Golden Bear women continued their impressive streak of academic excellence with a 3.43 GPA to appear on the list for the 18th year in a row -a streak that started in 2008. The men secured their fourth All-Academic Team honor in the past six years with a 3.06 GPA.

Berks County natives DeFusco and Jardine earned All-Academic Athlete honors by having a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale, completing at least 24 semester hours through the end of the semester of competition and achieving an automatic or provisional qualifying mark during the indoor or outdoor season.

DeFusco, a repeat honoree from 2023, graduated in May with a degree in geography/planning and 3.76 GPA. The Douglassville, Pa., native's NCAA provisional qualifying mark came in the triple jump (47'8"/14.53m) at the Bucknell Bison Open during the indoor season.

Jardine, a graduate transfer from the University of Kentucky, made a massive impact in his only season with the Maroon and Gold. Originally from Mohrsville, Pa., Jardine qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault, bringing home All-America honors both times with a sixth-place finish indoors (First Team) and 12th-place showing outdoors (Second Team).

Jardine also set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the outdoor long jump. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration and has a 3.89 GPA.