NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Fairleigh Dickinson University men's and women's track and field teams earned academic recognition from the NCAA Division I United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Junior Taeco O'Garro, senior Yourry Tapande Ngombe, and recent graduate Madeline Price each received individual All-Academic honors as well.

This marks the first time that both the men's team, women's team, and individuals from both sides were recognized by the USTFCCCA. The men's team finished the year with a 3.54 GPA and the women ended with a 3.46 GPA.

"I am very proud of our men and women's team and their academic accomplishments this year, they truly represented what it is to be a student-athlete at FDU," said head coach Sharlene Milwood-Lee.

The Knights also were successful on the track as the women's team won their first NEC Championship since 1999 and the men posted a third-place finish. Both teams also each shattered two program records respectively during the year.

The requirements to be recognized as an All-Academic student-athlete were to have a minimum GPA of 3.25, must have completed two semesters, and ended the season ranked in the top 96 in any championship individual event or in the top 48 in any championship event relay.

Price wrapped up a tremendous four years at FDU with three gold medals and was named Most Valuable Performer at the NEC Championships. At the Fasttrack Last Chance Meet, Price broke her own PR with a jump of 6.13 meters, which placed her 49th in the country in the long jump. In her final collegiate meet, Price earned the bronze medal and set another PR in the triple jump (12.42 meters) at the IC4A/ECAC Championships.

O'Garro set the program record in the triple jump with a leap of 15.48 meters at the Penn 8-Team Select, which helped him win the event. He ranked 55th in the nation with that jump and broke his own PR of 15.03 meters. At the NEC Championships, O'Garro brought home silver medals in the long and triple jump.

Tapande Ngombe finished 91st in the country in the 400 meter event with a time of 47.41 at the Boston University John Terrier Classic, which was .01 ticks away from breaking his own program record in the event.

There were 452 men from 126 colleges and 659 women from 178 colleges that earned All-Academic individual honors. Men's and women's track & field also saw 199 and 264 institutions reach the 3.0 team GPA threshold required to earn the team honor.

In the spring semester, the men's track and field team had 13 members reach the NEC Honor Roll and the women's program also saw 13 members earn NEC recognition.

"I would like to thank my staff, athletic academic support office, and administration that have taken a part in this accomplishment as well," said Milwood-Lee.