PORTLAND, Ore. – A total of 19 Western Oregon University cross country runners were named to the 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country All-Academic Teams, the league announced on Friday.
In all, more than 100 runners from the 11 conference schools were recognized with nine student-athletes making the team with perfect GPAs, including Western Oregon juniors
Tyler Jones and
Dustin Nading. Nading, an all-conference and all-region performer for the Wolves is majoring in exercise science while Jones, the third WOU competitor across the line at the GNAC Championships to help WOU to its first conference title is a mathematics major.
A total of 61 women were selected to the team. That total includes 30 repeat selections and 15 performers who are three-time selections. Forty-two men were named to the squad, including 21 repeat selections and nine three-time selections.
Western Oregon's
David Ribich claimed both the men's GNAC and West Region titles and will be in the mix to bring home his first All-American trophy in cross country. Ribich has a 3.41 GPA as a communication studies major.
Ribich and teammate
Matthew Haglund were amongst the nine men in the conference to earn the award for three straight seasons while
Felicia Covey,
Sara Madden and
Suzanne Van De Grift were three-time honorees for the women's team.
Madden holds a 3.91 GPA as a senior majoring in social science. Sophomores
Jamie Smith (4.00) and
Rachel Bayly (3.95) posted the team's top grade-point average with Smith one of five cross country student-athletes in the conference with a perfect 4.00 GPA.
In addition, juniors
Megan Rose and
Kendra Zimmerdahl earned back-to-back honors for the Wolves.
To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, a student-athlete must be of sophomore standing or better, be in their second season competing at the nominating institution and maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA or better.
2017 GNAC CROSS COUNTRY
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
| WESTERN OREGON WOMEN |
|
|
|
| Name |
Academic Major |
Year |
GPA |
Hometown |
| Rachel Bayly |
Early Childhood Education |
So. |
3.95 |
Moscow, Idaho |
| *+ Felicia Covey |
Community Health |
Sr. |
3.84 |
Keizer, Ore. |
| Antoinette Gowen |
Business |
So. |
3.65 |
Wilsonville, Ore. |
| *+ Sara Madden |
Social Science |
Sr. |
3.91 |
Kent, Wash. |
| * Megan Rose |
Exercise Science |
Jr. |
3.45 |
Hillsboro, Ore. |
| Kennedy Rufener |
Business |
Sr. |
3.60 |
Clackamas, Ore. |
| Jamie Smith |
Community Health |
So. |
4.00 |
Independence, Ore. |
| *+ Suzanne Van De Grift |
Exercise Science |
Sr. |
3.70 |
Yamhill, Ore. |
| Olivia Woods |
Psychology |
Jr. |
3.73 |
Troutdale, Ore. |
| * Kendra Zimmerdahl |
Community Health |
Jr. |
3.25 |
Portland, Ore. |
