USTFCCCA Announces Division I Men’s XC Scholar Athlete of the Year

NEW ORLEANS – University of Oregon senior Galen Rupp has been named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men’s NCAA Division I Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year, the Association announced on Monday.

Rupp’s senior season was highlighted by his individual title at the 2008 NCAA Division I Men’s Cross Country Championships. Rupp also won the Pacific-10 Conference title and his second straight West Region Cross Country individual title, becoming just the third runner in Oregon history to win back-to-back regional cross country titles.

The Portland, Oregon native has been equally successful in his academic pursuits. Rupp has a stellar 3.91 GPA in Business Administration at Oregon.

A total of 40 men’s student-athletes received All-Academic honors for the 2008 NCAA Division I Cross Country season, representing 34 different schools.

The Big 12 Conference had the most conference student-athletes on the list with six, followed by the Big East Conference with four, and the Ivy League and Pacific-10 Conference with three student-athletes each.

The 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 3.25 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 15 finishers (or top 10%) of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet or attain All-American status at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.

Virginia Tech’s Tasmin Fanning is the 2008 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

The 2008 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Men’s All-Academic Team