Reid Repeats as First Team Academic All-American

Reid named to Capital One Academic All-America team for second straight year

Villanova University Sports Information
June 21, 2012

TOWSON, Md. - For the second straight year Sheila Reid (Newmarket, Ont.) has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America Track and Field/Cross Country Team, as announced on Thursday morning. Reid repeats as a first team Academic All-America selection after finishing her collegiate career in top form during the 2011-12 academic year.

Reid concluded her Villanova career as a five-time individual national champion, 12-time All-American and 12-time BIG EAST champion. She was also a five-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and a three-time National Scholar-Athlete of the Year in addition to her two Academic All-America honors.

While making headlines for her career accomplishments and also establishing herself as one of the top athletes in Villanova history Reid was also completing a double major in English and Communications and maintained a 3.39 grade-point average.

During the 2011 cross country season Reid defended her individual national title at the NCAA Championships and was also the individual champion at both the BIG EAST Championships and NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional for the third straight year. Her efforts during the season helped lead the Wildcats to their fourth straight conference title and a third place team finish at the national championships meet.

Following the end of the cross country season Reid was presented with the Honda Sports Award for cross country, marking the third time in her career she received one of the prestigious Honda Awards after being the winner for both cross country and track last year.

During the collegiate outdoor track season which just ended Reid anchored Villanova to a Championship of America title in the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays. It was the 30th title all-time at the Penn Relays for the Wildcats and the 11th in the distance medley relay. Reid also ran in the 5000 meters at the NCAA East Regional and the NCAA Championships, where she repeated as an All-American.

Reid was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Scholar-Athlete of the Year for cross country after both the 2011 and the 2012 seasons and won the same award for the 2011 outdoor track season.

This past year alone Reid garnered spots on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area teams for both cross country and track and was the cross country All-Area Performer of the Year for the second straight year. She also received the NCAS Scholar Baller Academic Momentum Award after the cross country season.

Prior to the announcement of the Academic All-America teams Reid was voted a first team Capital One Academic All-District selection, enabling her to move on to the national ballot.

To be eligible for the Capital One Academic All-America program a student-athlete must be a key contributor to his or her team, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings. Since the program's inception in 1952, Academic All-America honors have been bestowed on more than 15,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

Villanova has had a total of 49 student-athletes receive Academic All-America honors 64 times. Reid and men's cross country and track runner Matthew Gibney each received the honor for both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 academic years.