Thursday, May 19, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – After a career in which he maintained excellence both on the track and in the classroom, five-time selection Justin Crosswhite of Western Oregon leads the 103 student-athletes named to the GNAC Men’s Track and Field All-Academic Team, presented by Barnes & Noble College.

Crosswhite, a senior with a 4.00 GPA in Western Oregon’s Master of Organizational Leadership Program, competed only during the outdoor season in 2021-22. He ran a lifetime best of 3:48.93 in the 1,500 meters and a season-best of 1:54.94 in the 800 meters, which placed 14th at the GNAC Championships. Crosswhite placed seventh in the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:52.95.

Crosswhite is one of six honorees with a perfect 4.00 GPA. He is joined by Alaska Anchorage junior Jacob Moos, Northwest Nazarene freshman Dylan Breuer, Saint Martin’s seniors Miguel De LaMalena and Cooper McCullough, and Western Washington freshman Kale Engebretsen. A total of 18 student-athletes made the team with a GPA of 3.80 or greater.

The All-Academic Team includes 60 repeat selections, 13 three-time honorees and eight four-time selections. The list of four-time selections includes Central Washington seniors Trevor Allen, Angus Beaton and Rajesh Gill; De LaMalena, Simon Fraser junior Aaron Ahl and Western Washington juniors Sonny Chhim, Mac Franks and Cyrus McAllister.

To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, presented by Barnes & Noble College, nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second year at the nominating institution. 

Thanks to eligibility waivers provided by the NCAA due to the cancellation of the 2020 season, players who continue to hold freshman eligibility but are in their second season of competition at the nominating institution were eligible for selection to the GNAC All-Academic Team.