NEW ORLEANS, La. – Layla Almasri, Riley McGrath and Afewerki Zeru have earned 2021 United States Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II All-America honors, announced by the organization today.  The Mountain Lions posted their best finishes in program history as the men earned a fifth-place finish with 254 points.  The women's team scored 263 points to finish seventh out 34 teams, tying their highest finish in program history.
 
Student-athletes from member institutions earned All-America recognition by finishing among the top-40 athletes in their gender's respective races this past weekend at the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in Saint Leo, Florida.
 
Redshirt-junior Layla Almasri (Colorado Springs, Colo.) is earning her first USTFCCCA Cross Country All-America honor and her sixth career All-America accolade.  A runner-up at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships and at the NCAA South Central regional meets, Almasri finished 12^th overall at Saturday's Division II National Championship meet, completing the 6k course in 20:57.9.  In the last three Indoor Track & Field seasons, Almasri has garnered All-America honors three times in the Distance Medley Relay event and twice in the Mile.
 
Redshirt-sophomore Riley McGrath (Spring Ranch, Texas) posted a time of 21:28.4 to place 39^th at the national meet.  McGrath was named USTFCCCA All-South Central Region two weeks ago after finishing 13^th overall.  McGrath is earning her third career All-America award after receiving USTFCCCA All-America honors at the 2021 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the Mile and Distance Medley Relay events.
 
Afewerki Zeru (Colorado Springs, Colo.) became the fourth cross country Mountain Lion to earn All-America recognition.  Zeru led UCCS to their highest finish as a program at a national meet after finishing 15^th overall in 30:49.7.  The junior started the post-season with a runner-up finish at the RMAC Championship meet and another second-place finish at the NCAA South Central Regional meet.  A 2021 All-RMAC First Team and USTFCCCA All-Region selection, Zeru earned 2020 USTFCCCA All-America honors in the 5000m, and All-America recognition last season in the 3000m.