Feb. 28, 2008

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Bethany Nickless and Megan Lewis were named to the 2007 NCAA Division I USA Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USATFCCCA) Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team, it was announced Monday.

Lewis, a psychology major, graduated this winter with a cumulative GPA of 3.82, which included a 4.0 in her final quarter. Nickless also had a 4.0 last quarter and currently has a GPA of 3.35. She will be graduating this spring with a degree in mathematics.

Nickless and Lewis were both named to the NCAA All-Regional team after leading the Gauchos to a fifth-place performance at the West Regionals and a return to the NCAA Championships as an at-large participant. In addition, Nickless was the Big West Athlete of the Year, and Lewis was the Big West Conference Champion.

A total of 91 female student-athletes representing 62 Division I institutions were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team. Four of those student-athletes finished in the top ten at the national meet.

The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and have completed a minimum 24 semester hours through the 2007 fall term. Additionally, the student-athlete must finish in the top 15 runners or top ten percent of finishers at their respective NCAA regional meet, or receive All-American honors.

Colorado's Jenny Barringer is the 2007 NCAA Division I USATFCCCA Women's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, and Oregon's Galen Rupp is the 2007 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year.