Alabama's Gadsden State Community College Cross Country Coach Jim Pitchford is continuing his longstanding practice of having teams which are competitive in races and outstanding in the classroom.

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Alabama's Gadsden State Community College Cross Country Coach Jim Pitchford is continuing his longstanding practice of having teams which are competitive in races and outstanding in the classroom. The 2008 squad compiled an average GPA of 3.423, which ranked them 10th among the members of the National Junior College Athletic Association. The 2007 squad was 12th in the nation with a 3.389 GPA, with three members being named Academic All-Americans. Five players from this year's squad were named to the NJCAA Coaches Academic All-American team: Kaci Blackstone of Glencoe, Lauren Holt of Rainbow City, Leigha Blake of Cedar Bluff, and Sarah Burke and Jessie Phillips, both of Anniston. The team also excelled in athletic competition and competed at the national tournament in Spartanburg, S. C.