Oct. 24, 2001

DALLAS -- Ten Missouri runners have been named to the women's and men's 2001 Cross Country Academic All-Big 12 Teams, the conference office announced Tuesday. Eight of the 10 Tigers on the team were first-team selections.

There were 79 academic all-conference selections on the women's side and 52 on the men's side. Of the 131 honored, 12 were nominated with a 4.0 grade point average or higher, including Missouri's Ann Marie Brooks (Sr., St. Joseph, Mo.). Missouri runners Lisa Buffington (Sr., Kansas City, Mo.), Amy Chipman, (Jr., Blue Springs, Mo.), Erin Hagan (So., Mexico, Mo.), Amanda Holferty (So., Kansas City, Mo.), Sarah Lynn McCann (So., Eden Prairie, Minn.), and Amy Semith (Jr., Glen Carbon, Ill.) also received all-conference honors for the women. On the men's side, Jason Franken (Sr., Linn, Mo.) was selected for the first team, while Jason Edwards (So., Springfield, Mo.) and Mike Pitts (Sr., Springfield, Mo.) received second team honors.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the cross country academic all-league squad consisted of 114 combined first-team members with 17 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.2 or better grade-point average, while the second team are those who have a 3.0 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify for the honor, student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team's scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are eligible.