Three New York University women's cross country team members have been named as 2009 Division III Cross Country All-Academic honorees as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Thursday, February 25.

Sophomore Joan Kanarkiewicz and freshmen Kirsten Keller and Kerra Vick were the three Violets who kicked it up a notch on all the courses and with their studies in 2009.

The USTFCCCA All-Academic awards honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.3 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 35 among the field at their NCAA regional meet.

Kanarkiewicz, who is in the NYU Liberal Studies Program and plans on majoring in language and mind, finished in the top 20 in all of the 6K races she competed in last fall. Kanarkiewicz placed fourth overall at the University Athletics Association Championship on Oct. 31 (23:40) and had a top time of 22:01 at the Oberlin College Inter-Regional Rumble on Oct. 17.

Keller, an undeclared major in NYU's College of Arts and Science, started in all seven varsity races for the Violets in 2009. Her best finish of 19th place came at the NCAA Regionals on Nov. 14. Keller's fastest time of the season in the 6K came at Oberlin (22:25).

Vick, a media, culture & communications major in NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, posted her fastest time of the season in the 6K at Oberlin (23:13).

All three are also current members of the NYU track & field team.