BOSTON – Three Catamounts were named to the 2021 America East Outdoor Track & Field All-Academic Teams on Thursday (May 20). The conference announced Marina Cannon and Jane Leighton as members of the women's All-Academic Team. Chris Gish was named to the men's All-Academic Team.
 
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"It's always a joy to have our student-athletes recognized for excellence in the classroom," head coach Matt Belfield said. "These three individuals are not only outstanding students among their athletic peers; they are some of the highest achieving people on campus in their respective fields. To thrive in challenging academic endeavors while earning All-Conference honors and regional championship titles is truly noteworthy. Kudos to Marina, Jane, and Chris; and to all of our men and women for exemplary scholarship year after year."
 
Cannon earns the third America East All-Academic honor of her career, previously earning the award in 2019 and 2020. The Littleton, Colorado native carries a 3.98 grade-point average (GPA) in Microbiology. Cannon registered an All-Conference pole vault in the 2021 America East Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a second-place finish. She was also named America East Field Performer of the Week on March 31.  Cannon closed out her career earning an All-New England honors with a third-place finish at the New England Championships. The Catamount pole vaulter registered a personal-best mark of 3.60 meters earlier this season, which ranks in a tie for second all-time at Vermont.
 
Leighton earns the first All-Academic honor of her career, but has been named to the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll in her first two collegiate seasons. The junior owns a 3.98 GPA in Professional Nursing.  Leighton was All-Conference in the steeplechase at the America East Championships with a second-place finish. The Amherst, New Hampshire native posted a blistering pace of 10:31.60, which ranks second all-time at UVM. Leighton closed out the 2021 outdoor season as a New England Champion, running the top mark in the steeplechase.
 
For the second time in his career, Gish is a member of the All-Academic Team, posting a 3.97 GPA in Geography. The Sharon, Vermont native was named to the All-Academic Team following the 2019 cross country season, and is a three-time member of the America East Commissioner's Honor Roll. Gish was a finalist in the 1500-meter run at the America East Championships this season. He also ran an All-New England mark of 3:54.54 in the 1500-meter run at the New England Championships. The senior posted Vermont's top 1500-meter mark of the 2021 outdoor campaign, a time of 3:52.69 at the Dartmouth Outdoor Invitational.