Alicia Belko was selected a Google Cloud Second-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Recent California University of Pennsylvania graduate Alicia Belko was selected a Google Cloud Second-Team Academic All-American by the College Sports
Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Wednesday afternoon.
Belko earned Academic All-America laurels for the second time in her career after
previously receiving third-team honors in 2017 while competing at the NCAA Division
III level at Stockton (N.J.). The Cal U women's cross country/track & field program
has now featured at least one Academic All-American seven times in the past eight
years.
In her lone semester competing for the Vulcans, she compiled one of the most accomplished
cross country seasons in program history. She captured the individual title at both
the NCAA Atlantic Region Championships and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference
(PSAC) Championships and helped Cal U earn a team qualifier for the NCAA National
Championships. Belko garnered NCAA All-America status by placing 25th overall at the
national meet after being selected both the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches
Association (USTFCCCA) Atlantic Region and PSAC Athlete of the Year.
Belko earned her master's degree in exercise science and health promotion with a concentration
in performance enhancement and injury prevention in December 2018 with a 4.00 cumulative
grade-point average (GPA). She completed her bachelor's degree from Stockton in physical
therapy with a 3.87 cumulative GPA in 2017.
A native of New Jersey, Belko was an accomplished three-sport athlete at Stockton,
competing on the cross country, field hockey and track & field teams. She received
NCAA All-America status in both cross country and track & field while with Ospreys
and finished her career with a combined five school records. Belko also played in
nearly 50 matches as a member of field hockey team at Stockton from 2013-15.
To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must maintain
a cumulative 3.30 GPA or higher and must have reached sophomore athletic and academic
standing at their institution.