Oct. 24, 2006

Columbia, Mo. - 19 University of Missouri cross country runners made the Cross Country Academic All- Big 12 First Team; it was announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Mizzou also had one runner on the second team. In all, 126 student-athletes were named to the 2006 Cross Country Academic All-Big 12 Team.

The list of Mizzou runners that made the first and second team can be found at the bottom of this release. The complete list can be found at big12sports.com.

Three Missouri runners were among 13 to earn 4.0 GPA's; Sophomore Brian Graybill (Liberty, Mo.), senior Amanda Bales (Bettendorf, Iowa) and junior Maddie Schueler (Louisville, Ky.). The Tiger men led the men's teams with 10 All-Big 12 runners.

Nominated by each institution's director of student-athlete support services and the media relations offices, the men's cross country academic all-league squad consisted of 48 first team members combined with 13 on the second team, while the women had 57 first team recipients and eight student-athletes on the second team. First team members consist of those who have maintained a 3.20 or better GPA, and the second team are those who have a 3.00 to 3.19 GPA.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain 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 also eligible.

The Tigers will compete in the 11th annual Big 12 Championships Friday at Rim Rock Farm in Lawrence, Kan.

First Team (*Indicates 4.0)

Michael Barrows, So., Undeclared Business, Flint, Mich. Tim Cornell, So., Bio Sciences, Columbia, Mo. Brian Graybill, So., Mechanical Engineering, Liberty, Mo. Colten Green, Jr., Animal Science, Roach, Mo. Dan Hedgecock, Fr., English, St. Louis, Mo. Tipper O'Brien, Sr., Journalism & English, St. Louis, Mo. Chris Pullen, Fr., International Business, St. Joseph, Mo. Tim Ross, Sr., English, Alto, Mich. Ben Wade, Fr., Business, St. Charles, Mo.

Second Team:

Garett Jeffries, So., Business, Clarkson Valley, Mo.

First Team (*Indicates 4.0 GPA)

*Amanda Bales, Sr., Physical Therapy, Bettendorf, Iowa Kate Greer, Jr., Advertising, Marshalltown, Iowa Kasey Kimball, Jr., Biological Science, Eureka, Mo. Summer Owens, So., Undeclared Business, Dix, Ill. Angela Potrykus, So., Journalism, Evergreen, Colo. Emily Ramsey, Jr., Social Work, Waukesha, Wis. Carolyn Rauen, Jr., Journalism, Cincinnati, Ohio Ellen Ries, So., Physical Therapy, Ryan, Iowa *Maddie Schueler, Jr., Journalism, Louisville, Ky. Kristina Werner, So. Biochemistry, Moberly, Mo.