Nov. 4, 2008
ST.LOUIS -
Illinois State sophomores Michelle Brunk and Jess Husted, junior Scott Krapf and senior Mike Richardson were named to the 2008 cross country Scholar-Athlete teams, following the completion of the 2008 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Cross Country Championship last weekend in Springfield, Mo., at the Missouri State Cross Country Course.
"It is important for the coaching staff to bring in quality student-athletes, and we have several of those in our program. Examples of that are the four that are on the academic team," said Illinois State head cross country coach Jeff Bovee. "The Illinois State Athletics Department stands for quality, both on-and-off the field.
Brunk was the first Redbird to cross the finish line at The Valley Championships for the ISU women and earned All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades with her 10th-place finish. Brunk holds a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 4.0 in psychology. Husted's 3.71 cumulative GPA in elementary education, as well as a 16th-place finish that earned her a position on the Scholar-Athlete team.
On the men's side, Krapf placed seventh at the Championship race, earning All-Missouri Valley Conference honors and holds a 4.0 cumulative GPA in recreation and park administration. Richardson took 11th at the championship race and holds a 3.04 GPA in physical education.
"This award acknowledges all the hard work the student-athletes put into their studies. Combined with the efforts of the athletic study center, this makes Illinois State special. Also, the quality of teachers at ISU hold our student-athletes to high standards but are willing to work with the athletes and their needs and different commitments that they have. Ultimately, scholar-athlete honors are the result of the efforts of the student-athletes, and the support of a lot of people on campus. We are certainly proud of the scholar-athletes and appreciate all their efforts, both on-and-off the field."
MVC Scholar-Athlete honors require student-athletes to meet performance standards, as the top-10 finishers at the conference championship earn all-conference honors and are included on the scholar-athlete team, provided they meet the set criteria. Other athletes must finish among the first 20 runners at the conference championships and hold a cumulative 3.0 GPA and be a sophomore in athletic and academic standing to earn a spot on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team.
The ISU men's and women's cross country teams will compete again Nov. 15, at the NCAA Midwest Regional Championships in Stillwater, Okla.
