Nine Kansas Runners Named Academic All-Big 12

Oct. 25, 2006

LAWRENCE, Kan. –

The University of Kansas cross country teams placed nine of its member on the Academic All-Big 12 teams, the Big 12 announced Tuesday. Both the he men’s and women’s squad placed three members on the First Team, highlighted by sophomore Megan James, who carried a 4.00 GPA.

James, a Kansas City, Mo., native majoring in pre-physical therapy, was joined by on the women’s Academic All-Big 12 First Team by senior Laura Major and junior Melissa Moody. Major, a Tulsa, Okla. native, is studying marketing while Moody, from Smithville, Mo., is majoring in sports management.

Sophomore Bridget Moran, a Leawood, Kan. native studying elementary education, was named to the women’s Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. The honor marks the third-straight year that Major has been named Academic All-Big 12 First Team and the second-straight year Moody has also been a member of the team.

For the men, seniors Matt French and Erik Sloan and junior Colby Wissel all earned spots on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team. Sloan, from Glenview, Ill., is studying secondary education with a focus in history and social studies while French, a Howell, Mich. native, is also majoring in secondary education. Wissel, the Big 12 Runner of the Week on Sept. 13, is studying business.

Senior Tyler Kelly, a film major from Bristow, Okla., and junior Adrian Ludwig, a sports management major from Lawrence, Kan., earned spots on the Academic All-Big 12 Second Team. This recognition marks the third time Sloan has received Academic All-Big 12 First Team Status while French and Wissel both received the honor for the first time. Kelly has now twice been a member of the second team and earned first team status in 2004.

To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher cumulative or in the two prior semesters and must have competed in 60 percent of his/her team’s scheduled contests. First team members consists of student-athletes who have maintained a 3.20 GPA or better and the second team are those who have a 3.00-3.19 GPA. For a complete list of both the Female and Male Academic All-Big 12 Teams, click here.

The recognition comes on the threshold of the Big 12 Cross Country Championships Friday at Rim Rock Farm. The event marks the first time that KU has hosted a Big 12 Championship event in Lawrence. For more information on the event, go to the Kansas cross country page.