Cross Country Spotlight: Aifuwa Named to USTFCCCA All-Academic Team Monday, February 5, 2007 By Bob Heller USIP Sports Information Director Philadelphia, Pa - The University of the Sciences in Philadelphia women’s cross country team member Oghogho (Joy) Aifuwa (Edison High School/Edison, NJ) has been named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team for the 2006 season. This is Aifuwa’s second consecutive selection as a member of the Division II All-Academic Team by the USTFCCCA, having earned this honor in 2005. To qualify for this honor an individual must have a cumulative grade point average through the semester of competition of a 3.25 on a 4.0 scale. An athlete must have competed in at least 50% of their teams’ cross country competitions, and finish in the top 30% at the NCAA Regional meet. The individual’s coach must also be a member of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Aifuwa, a pharmacy major with a 3.44 grade point average, recently completed her third season of competition this fall for the Devils. Joy competed in six regular season meets finishing no lower than fourth place in five of the six, including second place finishes at the Delaware Valley College Invitational, Belmont Classic and Goldey Beacom Invitational. At the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championships, Aifuwa finished in second place, leading the Devils to a fourth place team finish. Joy concluded her season with a 71st place finish at the NCAA East Regionals at Slippery Rock as the Devils placed 21st out of 32 teams. During the 2006 season, Aifuwa was named CACC Runner of the Week five times, giving her a total of 13 Runner of the Week honors in her three seasons of competition. In addition, Aifuwa earned her third straight selection to the CACC All-conference Team. In November, Aifuwa was named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Area All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year in a vote conducted by the Sports Information Directors of the 28 area schools. The former Edison High School athlete has competed for three seasons as a member of the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia’s women’s cross country team while earning Dean’s List honors in each of her five semesters at USP.