Friday, November 10, 2017
PORTLAND, Ore. – An impressive total of cross country runners with 4.00 cumulative grade point averages leads over 100 honorees on the 2017 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country All-Academic Teams.
Nine student-athletes made the team with perfect GPAs. The list is led by a pair of top performers who have compiled that 4.00 GPA while finishing well for their teams. Central Washington’s Alexa Shindruk has maintained a 4.00 GPA as a junior accounting major. She was the Wildcats’ top finisher at the GNAC Championships, placing 11th, and earned All-West Region honors with an 18th place finish at the NCAA West Region Championships.
Northwest Nazarene senior Isaac Mitchell completed his collegiate cross country season last weekend while maintaining a 4.00 GPA as a biology major. Mitchell was the Nighthawks’ No. 2 runner at the GNAC Championships, placing 16th, and went on to finish 59th at the West Region Championships.
Shindruk is joined by four other women’s runners with 4.00 GPAs: Concordia senior Sara Harrington, Northwest Nazarene sophomore Bethany Danner, Seattle Pacific sophomore Kate Lilly and Western Oregon sophomore Jamie Smith. Mitchell is joined by three other men with 4.00 GPAs: Alaska senior Lyon Kopsack and Western Oregon juniors Tyler Jones and Dustin Nading.
A total of 62 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.
Among those three-time selections is the reigning GNAC and West Region champions. Alaska Anchorage senior Caroline Kurgat, considered a favorite to win the NCAA Division II championship, earned her third selection with a 3.51 GPA as a nursing and medical laboratory science major. She won the GNAC women’s title by 56 seconds and the West Region title by 36 seconds.
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.
This year’s GNAC Cross Country All-Academic Teams include nine runners who earned All-GNAC honors with top-10 finishes at last month’s GNAC Championships. Kurgat is joined by four UAA women’s teammates in juniors Zennah Jepchumba, Danielle McCormick and Kimberly Cosica. Seattle Pacific’s Mary Charleson, the GNAC runner-up, earned her third All-Academic selection.
Ribich was joined by on the squad by fellow top-10 performer Nading. Other top academic and on-course performers include GNAC runner-up Edwin Kangogo from Alaska Anchorage and Andrew Wise of Western Washington.
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 |
||||
| MEN | ||||
| ALASKA | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| *+ Alexander Eckert | Computer Science | Sr. | 3.37 | Bischofscheim, Germany |
| *+ Lyon Kopsack | Civil Engineering | Sr. | 4.00 | Palmer, Alaska |
| Lukash Platil | Biology | So. | 3.35 | Thorton, Colo. |
| *+ Daniel Serventi | Mechanical Engineering | Sr. | 3.46 | Anchorage, Alaska |
| * Saiji Takagi | Biology | Sr. | 3.39 | Anchorage, Alaska |
| * Carl Wahlin | Mechanical Engineering | Sr. | 3.67 | Bismarck, N.D. |
| ALASKA ANCHORAGE | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| *+ Edwin Kangogo | Management Information Systems | Sr. | 3.30 | Eldoret, Kenya |
| Kaleb Korta | Construction Management | So. | 3.81 | Galena, Alaska |
| Taylor Turney | Civil Engineering | Jr. | 3.25 | Anchorage, Alaska |
| CENTRAL WASHINGTON | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Taryk Boyd | Exercise Science | Jr. | 3.39 | Camas, Wash. |
| Matt Conrardy | Undeclared | So. | 3.91 | Sutter Creek, Calif. |
| * Tyler Humphries | Business Administration | Jr. | 3.86 | Puyallup, Wash. |
| Ron Leaf | History/Social Stud. Teach | Sr. | 3.30 | Kelso, Wash. |
| Hanson Lee | Digital Journalism | Jr. | 3.20 | Ballard, Wash. |
| Matthew Schrenk | Mechanical Engineering | Jr. | 3.33 | Sealh, Wash. |
| CONCORDIA | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Judd Lewis | Accounting | Sr. | 3.57 | Wenatchee, Wash. |
| MONTANA STATE BILLINGS | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Ivan Colmenero | Criminal Justice | Jr. | 3.28 | Manhattan, Mont. |
| * Jorey Egeland | Biology | Sr. | 3.44 | Billings, Mont. |
| NORTHWEST NAZARENE | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Gabe Fisher | Business Administration | Sr. | 3.86 | Nampa, Idaho |
| * Nicholas Hamilton | Computer Science | Jr. | 3.32 | Caldwell, Idaho |
| *+ Isaac Mitchell | Biology: Pre-Medicine | Sr. | 4.00 | Sandy, Ore. |
| SAINT MARTIN’S | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Joe Edgecomb | Biology | Jr. | 3.89 | Lakewood, Wash. |
| *+ Josh Hunt | Computer Science | Sr. | 3.66 | Onalaska, Wash. |
| * Austin Miller | Business Administration | Sr. | 3.42 | Port Orchard, Wash. |
| * Levi Schilter | Mechanical Engineering | Jr. | 3.54 | Lacey, Wash. |
| Andrew Walter | Business Administration | So. | 3.45 | Fairbanks, Alaska |
| SEATTLE PACIFIC | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Jesse Phan | Business Administration | So. | 3.63 | Bellingham, Wash. |
| SIMON FRASER | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Sean Paulsen | Engineering Science | So. | 3.36 | Pitt Meadows, B.C. |
| WESTERN OREGON | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Brennan Buckley-Noonan | Science | So. | 3.41 | Redmond, Ore. |
| Michael Chin | Business | Sr. | 3.29 | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Justin Crosswhite | Business | So. | 3.59 | Hood River, Ore. |
| *+ Matthew Haglund | Exercise Science | Sr. | 3.28 | Clackamas, Ore. |
| Sawyer Heckard | Exercise Science | So. | 3.23 | Coos Bay, Ore. |
| AJ Holmberg | Education | Jr. | 3.39 | Scio, Ore. |
| Tyler Jones | Mathematics | Jr. | 4.00 | Bend, Ore. |
| Dustin Nading | Exercise Science | Jr. | 4.00 | Longview, Wash. |
| *+ David Ribich | Communication Studies | Sr. | 3.41 | Enterprise, Ore. |
| WESTERN WASHINGTON | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Peter Butler | Environmental Science | So. | 3.25 | Port Angeles, Wash. |
| Liam Cossette | Electrical Engineering | So. | 3.36 | Spokane, Wash. |
| Colton Pulver | Kinesiology | So. | 3.58 | Wasilla, Alaska |
| Kyler Sager | Business Administration | Jr. | 3.79 | Snohomish, Wash. |
| *+ Andrew Wise | Journalism & Environmental Policy | Sr. | 3.54 | Denver, Colo. |
| WOMEN | ||||
| ALASKA | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Alex Bergholtz | Chemistry | Jr. | 3.87 | Kenai, Alaska |
| * Jocelyn Kopsack | Mathematics | Jr. | 3.57 | Palmer, Alaska |
| Sarissa Lammers | Mechanical Engineering | Sr. | 3.57 | Eagle River, Alaska |
| *+ Ann-Cathrin Uhl | Business Management | Sr. | 3.56 | Muhlenbach, Germany |
| ALASKA ANCHORAGE | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Jordyn Block | Physical Education | So. | 3.80 | Palmer, Alaska |
| *+ Mariah Burroughs | Justice | Sr. | 3.43 | Wasilla, Alaska |
| Riley Burroughs | Nursing and Psychology | So. | 3.53 | Wasilla, Alaska |
| * Kimberly Coscia | Justice | Jr. | 3.39 | Torrance, Calif. |
| Zennah Jepchumba | Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science | Jr. | 3.41 | Eldoret, Kenya |
| *+ Caroline Kurgat | Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science | Sr. | 3.51 | Eldoret, Kenya |
| * Danielle McCormick | Natural Sciences | Jr. | 3.36 | Soldotna, Alaska |
| *+ Tamara Perez | Marketing | Sr. | 3.47 | Hendaye, France |
| CENTRAL WASHINGTON | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Brenna Carlson | Undeclared | So. | 3.58 | Olympia, Wash. |
| Delaney Clem | Undeclared | So. | 3.99 | Pendleton, Ore. |
| Brenna Liebel | Biology/Mathematics | Jr. | 3.98 | Buckley, Wash. |
| Miranda Nelson | Undeclared | So. | 3.87 | Gig Harbor, Wash. |
| * Alexa Shindruk | Accounting | Jr. | 4.00 | Bellingham, Wash. |
| CONCORDIA | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Kaitlyn Bailly | Nursing | So. | 3.49 | Anchorage, Alaska |
| *+ Kelsea Campbell | Psychology | Jr. | 3.41 | Sparks, Nev. |
| Bailey Fjelstul | Exercise & Sports Science | So. | 3.93 | Kenmore, Wash. |
| * Sara Harrington | Masters of Education | Sr. | 4.00 | San Francisco, Calif. |
| Gabriella Hobson | Exercise & Sports Science | So. | 3.92 | Coos Bay, Ore. |
| * Nicole Pederson | Exercise & Sports Science | Jr. | 3.51 | Redondo Beach, Calif. |
| *+ Dalen Richardson | Biology | Sr. | 3.38 | Boring, Ore. |
| Brenna Siltman | Accounting | So. | 3.53 | Puyallup, Wash. |
| MONTANA STATE BILLINGS | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Sarah Beatty | Outdoor Adventure Leadership | Jr. | 3.30 | Billings, Mont. |
| *+ Bailey Bomar | Psychology | Sr | 3.33 | Billings, Mont. |
| Catrina Schuchard | Pre Professional Nursing | So. | 3.87 | Harlowton, Mont. |
| Josey Smiedala | Public Relations | So. | 3.26 | Helena, Mont. |
| NORTHWEST NAZARENE | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| MaKenna Conley | Nursing | Jr. | 3.75 | Redmond, Ore. |
| Bethany Danner | Secondary Education | So. | 4.00 | McCall, Idaho |
| * Emily Hammons | Graphic Design | Jr. | 3.28 | Nampa, Idaho |
| *+ Anysja Manzer | Engineering | Sr. | 3.55 | Melba, Idaho |
| SAINT MARTIN’S | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Lindsey Dorney | Education | Jr. | 3.79 | Bothell, Wash. |
| * Larissa Kolasinski | Biology | Jr. | 3.46 | Issaquah, Wash. |
| Yadira Lopez | Social Work | Sr. | 3.53 | Lakewood, Wash. |
| Yeshi Vaughan | Social Work | So. | 3.84 | Rochester, Wash. |
| SEATTLE PACIFIC | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| * Sophie Carroll | Nursing | Sr. | 3.46 | Bremerton, Wash. |
| *+ Mary Charleson | Psychology | Sr. | 3.74 | Mill Creek, Wash. |
| *+ Hailey Kettel | Exercise Science | Sr. | 3.53 | Edmonds, Wash. |
| Kate Lilly | Mathematics | So. | 4.00 | Renton, Wash. |
| Sedona McNerney | Elementary Education | So. | 3.86 | Fair Oaks, Calif. |
| *+ Chynna Phan | Elementary Education | Jr. | 3.31 | Bellingham, Wash. |
| Katherine Walter | Business Administration/Accounting | So. | 3.94 | Brier, Wash. |
| WESTERN OREGON | ||||
| 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. |
| *+ Suzie 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. |
| WESTERN WASHINGTON | ||||
| Name | Academic Major | Year | GPA | Hometown |
| Talia Dreicer | Environmental Science | So. | 3.54 | Los Alamos, N.M. |
| * Maddy Hutchison | Kinesiology and Chemistry | Sr. | 3.41 | Snoqualmie, Wash. |
| Aundrea Koger | Biology | So. | 3.90 | Osage City, Kan. |
| *+ Alexandra Laiblin | Biology | Sr. | 3.65 | Oak Harbor, Wash. |
| Tracy Melville | Art Studio | So. | 3.72 | Lamont, Wash. |
| Peyton Shinnick | Biology | So. | 3.27 | Maple Valley, Wash. |
| Waverly Shreffler | English – Secondary Education | So. | 3.57 | Sequim, Wash. |
| Nicole Vijgen | Plastics and Composite Engineering | So. | 3.46 | Mukilteo, Wash. |
* - 2016 All-Academic Selection + - 2015 All-Academic Selection