Five CSURunners Named to USTFCCCA Division II All-Academic Team for Cross-Country

Columbus, Ga. -- A total of five Columbus State cross-country student-athletes have been named to the 2009-10 U.S. Track and Field / Cross-Country Coaches Association's Division II All-Academic Teams. The teams were announced late last week.

Four men - Stewart Helton, Andy Henderson, David Marley and John Neill were named to the team, as was women's runner Naomi Tanui.

To qualify for the recognition, an athlete must have passed 12 hours of courses through the season at the institution, posted at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average, and finished either in the top 30 percent of the field at the regional meet, or in the top 50 percent of the field at the NCAA championship meet. 

Helton, a senior biology major, owns a 3.93 GPA and has been a solid performer for three seasons in the CSU program. Henderson, a freshman also majoring in biology, has posted an overall 3.67 GPA at CSU. Marley, a junior, is majoring in exercise science and owns a 3.30 GPA. Neill, in his third year at CSU and majoring in biology with a minor in Spanish, boasts a 3.38 GPA.

Tanui, a transfer who arrived at CSU in the fall, is majoring in business and owns a 3.28 GPA.

These runners helped CSU sweep both the men's and women's Peach Belt Conference titles in the fall, the fourth in a row for the men and fifth in a row for the women. Both teams advanced to the NCAA regional and both qualified and participated in the NCAA Championships in November.