Oct. 28, 2003

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Big 12 Conference office announced on Tuesday the 2003 Men's and Women's Big 12 Cross Country Academic All-Big 12 teams. Of the 114 student-athletes on the list, 15 were named from the University of Missouri. Senior Ryan Hampton, junior Serena Ramsey, and sophomore Valerie Lauver earned 4.0 GPAs in the 2003 winter semester. Missouri's 15 include eight men and seven women, thirteen of which made the first team.

Texas will host the eighth annual Big 12 Men and Women's Cross Country Championships Friday, at Barton Creek Lakeside Country Club in Spicewood, Texas (northwest of Austin). The men's 8,000-meter race will start at 9 a.m. (CST), while the women will run their 6,000-meter race at 10 a.m. (CST).

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 94 combined first-team members with 20 on the second team. First-team members consist of those who maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, while the second team are those who have posted 3.00 to 3.19 GPAs.

To qualify student-athletes must have a 3.00 GPA 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.

Men's First Team
* Ryan Hampton, Sr., Music, Liberty, Mo.
David Mertens, Jr., Physics & Math, Ballwin, Mo.
Rem Moll, Jr., Fisheries & Wildlife, Tulsa, Okla.
Andrew Norton, So., Jr., Finance, Red Bud, Ill.
Matt Noonan, So., Mechanical Engineering, Baldwin City, Kan.
Tim Ross, So., Undeclared, Alto, Mich.

Men's Second Team
Josh Davis, Jr., Art, Liberty, Mo.
Chase Hall, So., Civil Engineering, Tulsa, Okla.

Women's First Team
Amanda Bales, Jr., Physical Therapy, Bettendorf, Iowa
Katherine Bonugli, Sr., Middle School Education, St. Charles, Mo.
Kristin Hansen, So. Nutritional Science, Milford, Iowa
* Valerie Lauver, So., Physical Therapy, Allen, Texas
Ashley Patten, RSFr., Business, Clarkston, Mich.
* Serena Ramsey, Jr., Human Development & Family Studies, Waukesha, Wis.
Sonya Yamnitz, So., Nutritional Science, Hallsville, Mo.
* indicates 4.0