Ackley, Doan Named to USTFCCCA XC All-Academic Team

Liberty’s talented duo of Adelyn Ackley and Calli Doan was named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team on Thursday. Additionally, both the Flames and Lady Flames were recognized as USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams for their overall academic success as a program.

Ackley and Doan helped Coach Heather Zealand’s women’s cross country squad post an impressive team cumulative GPA of 3.75. Meanwhile, Coach Isaac Wendland’s Flames boast a team GPA of 3.23.

Both Ackley and Doan were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the second consecutive season, by virtue of their all-region performances and cumulative GPAs above 3.25.

A native of Mears, Mich., Ackley owns a 3.55 GPA as a zoo and wildlife biology major. She earned her first all-region certificate with a 14^th-place showing at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships. Ackley garnered her third straight first team All-ASUN medal with a third-place finish at the ASUN Championship. A two-time ASUN Runner of the Week (Sept. 14 and Sept. 28), Ackley made the ASUN All-Academic Team.

Apex, N.C., native Doan maintains a 3.99 GPA as an exercise science major. She became an All-American for the first time, thanks to a 28^th-place finish at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. Doan was the ASUN individual champion and came in fourth at the NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championship. During her stellar campaign, she also set program records for the 5K (16:57.4) and 6K (19:50.6) distances.

Off the course, Doan was recently named an ASUN Winner for Life for the second time. She repeated as ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and earned a spot on the ASUN All-Academic Team.

During the fall 2021 season, Ackley and Doan helped the Lady Flames defend their ASUN Conference title, post their-best ever regional finish (fifth place) and garner the program’s first national ranking (No. 24).