Edwards, Greene, Bennett and Donovan Receive Recognition
SALEM, ORE. -- Four athletes on the Willamette University cross country teams have received All-Academic status from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2011 season. Two runners on the Willamette men's team and two runners from the Bearcat women's team were chosen for the award.
A total of 183 student-athletes from Division III were chosen for the Womens All-Academic Team and 141 runners were chosen for the Men's All-Academic Team. Each All-Academic selection was recognized for achieving a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher, while finishing in the top 35 at an NCAA Regional cross country meet.
Willamettes All-Academic athletes on from the women's team were Theresa Edwards (Jr., Lake Tapps, WA/Bonney Lake HS) and Kaitlin Greene (Sr., Pullman, WA/Pullman HS). Edwards is majoring in Environmental Science and Biology. Greene is majoring in Sociology.
Student-Athletes chosen for All-Academic honors on the Willamette men's team were Parker Bennett (So., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) and Ben Donovan (Sr., Minneapolis, MN/South HS). Bennett is an Exercise Science major, and Donovan is majoring in Physics.
Chiara Del Piccolo from Williams College (Mass.) was chosen as the Cross Country Women's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. She achieved a 3.56 cumulative GPA and won the NCAA individual national championship at the end of the 2011 season. Former Willamette cross country runner Sarah Zerzan ('08) received the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in 2006 and 2007 while winning back-to-back NCAA individual championships.
Ben Sathre from the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) was selected as the Cross Country Men's Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He produced a 3.74 GPA and won the individual title at the NCAA Championships.
Greene and Edwards both competed for the Willamette women's team at the NCAA Championships, helping the Bearcats finish 29th in the nation. At the West Regional, Greene placed 14th and Edwards finished 15th, as WU claimed second place overall. Also at the West Regional, Donovan took 21st place and Bennett placed 34th for the Willamette men, who earned fourth place in the team standings.
Kaitlin Greene competed at the NCAA Championships after placing 14th at the West Regional.