By Britni Smith, USD Sports Information

NEW ORLEANS—South Dakota senior Abby Ripperda, in addition to the Coyote men’s and women’s cross country teams, has earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
Ripperda is one of 174 women to receive recognition from the USTFCCCA, including being one of three from the Summit League. To be eligible for the award, honorees must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and have finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Regionals or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships. Ripperda garners USTFCCCA’s All-Academic honors for the second time in her career.

A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ripperda wrapped up her seventh and final season with the Coyotes this fall. She placed third at the Summit League Championships to garner all-Summit first-team honors and lead the Coyotes to a Summit League team title. She went on to finish 25th at the NCAA Midwest Regional. Ripperda graduated in May of 2021 with a bachelor’s in medical biology and is currently enrolled in USD’s physical therapy program.
 
The Coyote women’s and men’s cross-country squads were named USTFCCCA All-Academic teams. The women own a 3.60 cumulative team GPA while the men hold a 3.37 cumulative team GPA.
 
To be eligible for All-Academic team status, a program must have a cumulative team GPA of 3.00 or higher and have at least five runners start at an NCAA Regional.