The NCAA News - News and Features

April 13, 1998

Division I men's all-academic cross country team announced

Six of the top 10 men's teams and four of the top 20 men's individual finishers at the 1997 Division I Men's Cross Country Championships lead the Division I men's all-academic cross country team announced by the United States Cross Country Coaches Association.

Stanford (which claimed its second consecutive title in 1997), Wisconsin, North Carolina State, Michigan State, William and Mary, and Weber State highlight the 46-team all-academic list. Wisconsin, North Carolina State and Michigan State placed fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively, at the 1997 championships, while William and Mary and Weber State garnered the ninth and 10th positions, respectively.

Southern Utah posted the highest grade-point average among the 46 teams at 3.550.

Kevin Sullivan of Michigan, who placed second individually at the 1997 championships; John Mortimer of Michigan (11th); Stanford's Jason Balkman (14th); and Matthew Lane of William and Mary (16th) were among the 28 individuals garnering honors.

To qualify for team all-academic honors, a team is required to average at least a 3.000 grade-point average for all team members who used a season of eligibility. Teams also must have competed at their NCAA regional-qualifying meet and had at least five runners finish the race.

To qualify for individual all-academic honors, an individual must have finished in the top 10 percent at an NCAA regional meet or achieve all-America status by finishing among the top 25 at the NCAA national championships, and compile at least a 3.250 grade-point average (4.000 scale).

Sullivan and Notre Dame's Jason Rexing were named to the team for the third time.

Following are this year's all-academic selections:

Team

1. Southern Utah, 3.550 grade-point average; 2. (tie) Brigham Young and Montana State, 3.430; 4. Dayton, 3.370; 5. (tie) Weber State and Jackson State, 3.350; 7. Southern Mississippi, 3.330; 8. Canisius, 3.290; 9. North Carolina State, 3.260; 10. Iowa State, 3.250.

11. (tie) California and Syracuse, 3.240; 13. (tie) Yale and Creighton, 3.230; 15. (tie) Iona, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin, 3.220; 18. (tie) Indiana State, Fairfield and Central Michigan, 3.210.

21. (tie) Notre Dame, Colgate and Miami (Florida), 3.190; 24. (tie) Bucknell, Drake and Stanford, 3.180; 27. (tie) Santa Clara and Southern Illinois, 3.160; 29. Belmont, 3.150; 30. Valparaiso, 3.120.

31. George Washington, 3.110; 32. (tie) Cornell and Wright State, 3.100; 34. Cincinnati, 3.070; 35. (tie) Michigan State and Chattanooga, 3.060; 37. (tie) Air Force and Western Michigan, 3.050; 39. (tie) Youngstown State and Northern Arizona, 3.040.

41. Alabama, 3.030; 42. St. Francis (Pennsylvania), 3.020; 43. (tie) Wake Forest, Miami (Ohio) and Idaho State, 3.010; 46. William and Mary, 3.000.

Individual

Kyle Baker, Michigan State, business administration; Jason Balkman, Stanford, electrical engineering; Padraic Buckley, Iona, mathematics; Benjamin Cooke, James Madison, art/social science; Steven Fein, Wisconsin, business; Matt Harmer, Weber State, zoology; Ronald Hess, Bucknell, electrical engineering; Jed Johansen, Weber State, English teaching; Damian Kallabis, UTEP, marketing; Tom Kloos, Columbia, political science; Matthew Kodak, Bucknell, business management; Matthew Lane, William and Mary, undeclared; David Lichoro, Iowa State, management information systems; Jason Lunn, Stanford, mechanical engineering; Scott McClennan, Illinois, aeronautical engineering; Chris McGregor, Liberty, business; John Mortimer, Michigan, architecture; Christopher Mutai, Jacksonville, biology; Chan Pons, North Carolina State, business; Matt Poulson, Brigham Young, premedicine; Jason Rexing, Notre Dame, mechanical engineering; David Rop, Jackson State, math/engineering; Steve Schell, Michigan State, electrical engineering; Jay Schoenfelder, Wisconsin, history; Kevin Sullivan, Michigan, civil engineering; Elvis Terry, Idaho State, secondary education; Chad Walton, Northern Arizona, microbiology/premedicine; Kimble Woodworth, William and Mary, kinesiology/French.