Four Cross Country Runners Earn All-Academic Honor from USTFCCCA

(NEW ORLEANS, La.) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's cross country team had four runners selected to the All-Academic team by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).  This marks the fourth consecutive season that the Tartans had at least two members garner the honor while the team earned honors once again.

Senior Evan Gates (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) is making his third appearance, junior Josh Newby (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) his second while junior Ken Murphy (Carlisle, Pa./Cumberland Valley) and sophomore George Degen (Madison, Wis./West) are making their first appearance.

The USTFCCCA All-Academic 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 3.3 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 35 among the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.

At the regional meet, Gates finished sixth overall, Newby eighth, Degen 18th and Murphy19th all claiming All-Region honors, leading the team to a second-place finish. The team then placed 17th at the NCAA Division III Championships.  

The team earned the award with a 3.32 cumulative average and has been honored since the USTFCCCA began the All-Academic program.