FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

USTFCCCA All-Academic

Feb. 15, 2011-- North Central College men's cross country runners Timothy Hird and Daniel Kerley were among the 142 student-athletes named to the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-Academic Team released Wednesday.

The USTFCCCA All-Academic award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 35 among the field at their respective NCAA regional meet. In total 142 athletes representing 80 institutions earned the award. Hird and Kerley were among the three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin runners to be honored, joining Augustana College's Matt Bowman.

Hird, a sophomore sports management major, finished 18th (24:39.3) in the 8,000-meter race at the NCAA Midwest Regional on Nov. 13 in Rock Island, Ill., before placing 109th (25:29.9) at the NCAA Division III National Championships a week later in Waverly, Iowa. Hird additionally placed fifth (24:42) at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships on Oct. 30, helping the Cardinals capture their 37th-straight conference crown.

Kerley, a sophomore psychology major, finished sixth (24:42) at the CCIW Championships, 24th (24:43) at the Midwest Regional while running to a 74th place finish (25:18.9) at the NCAA Championships.

North Central claimed its third consecutive Midwest Region title in 2010 before bringing home the second place trophy at the NCAA Division III National Championships. It was 32nd time since Division III was founded in 1973 that the Cardinals finished among the top three at Nationals.