From University of Chicago Athletics
University of Chicago senior runner Khia Kurtenbach was named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team on Tuesday.
The 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® recipients are selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in athletic competition and in the classroom. Eligible student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.30 grade point average, be of sophomore standing or higher, and have attended their current institutions for at least one year.
Kurtenbach earned First Team Academic All-America honors – she was previously a Third Team Academic All-American in 2017. She becomes the eighth UChicago student-athlete to receive multiple Academic All-American honors from CoSIDA.
Kurtenbach graduated from UChicago in June with a degree in molecular engineering. She finished her racing career as a three-time All-American in cross country and a five-time All-American in track (3,000 meters and 5,000 meters). Her crowning achievement came this past fall season at the 2017 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, where she won the national title on the 6K course.
Kurtenbach's NCAA championship helped her earn a pair of prestigious honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). She was selected as the 2017 USTFCCCA Women's Cross Country National Athlete of the Year and the 2017 USTFCCCA Division III Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
On the track this spring, she set a new University Athletic Association (UAA) Championship meet record in the outdoor 10,000 meters. The senior qualified for the 2018 NCAA outdoor national meet in the 10,000 meters and 5,000 meters.
The UAA previously recognized Kurtenbach's academic prowess with three selections to the UAA All-Academic Team in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
UChicago Multiple Academic All-Americans
- Frank Baker (Football) – 1992, 1993
- Chandler Carroll (Football) – 2016, 2017
- Madelyn Detloff (Softball) – 1986, 1987
- Michelle Dobbs (Women's Track & Field / Cross Country) – 2016, 2017
- Gretchen Gates (Women's Basketball) – 1985, 1986
- Paul Haar (Football) – 1987, 1988
- Khia Kurtenbach (Women's Track & Field / Cross Country) – 2017, 2018
- Zach Rodgers (Men's Track & Field) – 2007, 2008