Abilene Christian's Julius Nyango and Winrose Karunde earned special recognition Friday when Lone Star Conference officials announced the league's cross country all-academic awards.

      Nyango was named the LSC Men's Academic Runner of the Year, while Karunde was tabbed LSC Women's Academic Runner of the Year.  Both were voted to the LSC All-Academic team, which recognized 11 runners -- five men and six women -- for both academic and athletic achievement. The All-Academic teams are voted upon by the league's sports information directors.

      Besides the All-Academic teams being announced, another 20 runners including 13 women and seven men were named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll for their academic success.  To be eligible for both the Honor Roll and the All-Academic team, student-athletes must maintain a 3.20 cumulative grade point average.

      With Nyango on the men's All-Academic team were East Central's John Sutrick and Daniel Kiptoo, Texas A&M-Commerce's Tyler Tyndell and Eastern New Mexico's Jacob Wiklund.

      Joining Karunde on the women's All-Academic team were Southwestern Oklahoma's Stefanie Jones, Tarleton State's Kymberlle Trnka, West Texas A&M's Kristie Hartsfield and Becca Rapstine and Midwestern State's Hassie Sutton.

      All the runners will compete in the LSC Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Oct. 25, in Kingsville, Texas.

2008 Men's Cross Country All-Academic Team

    Runner                   Team                               Year    Major                              Hometown

    Julius Nyango         Abilene Christian            Sr.       Chemistry                        Aldai, Kenya

    John Sutrick            East Central                     Sr.       Biology                           Sapulpa, Okla.

    Daniel Kiptoo          East Central                     So.       Physics                            Eldoret, Kenya

    Tyler Tyndell           Texas A&M-Commerce  Jr.        Kinesiology                     Paris, Texas

    Jacob Wiklund        Eastern New Mexico       Sr.       Broadcast Production      Cloudcro, N.M.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Academic Runner of the Year: Julius Nyango, Abilene Christian

COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL

East Central: Tyler Jackson  East Central, Jr.;

Eastern New Mexico: Jonathon Tafoya, Jr.; Kennedy Baiywo, Sr.; Logan Robertson, So.;

Texas A&M-Commerce:  Logan Kelly, Jr.; Brandon Womack, So.

2008 Women's Cross Country All-Academic Team

    Runner                   Team                                   Year    Major                          Hometown

    Winrose Karunde    Abilene Christian                So.       Nursing                       Nyeri, Kenya          

    Stefanie Jones         Southwestern Oklahoma     Sr.       Pharmacy                    Fort Smtih, Ark.

    Kymberlee Trnka    Tarleton State                      Sr.       Exer. & Sports Stud.   Caldwell, Texas

    Kristie Hartsfield     West Texas A&M               Jr.        Biology                       Perryton, Texas

    Hassie Sutton          Midwestern State                So.       Exercise Physiology    Keller, Texas

    Becca Rapstine        West Texas A&M               So.       Sports & Exer. Science                White Deer, Texas

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Academic Runner of the Year: Winrose Karunde, Abilene Christian

COMMISSIONER'S HONOR ROLL

Abilene Christian: Lindsey Putman, So.;

Angelo State: Patricia Dailey, Sr.; Brittney Heath, Jr.; Paige Massingill, Jr.; Andria Nussey, Jr.;

East Central: Carina Clemente, So.; Sarah Reihart, Jr.; Silvia Barkechir, So.;

Southeastern Oklahoma: Andi Richardson, Sr.;

Southwestern Oklahoma: Kate Hollenshead, Sr.; Emily Haskins, Jr.;

Tarleton State: Angela Riker, Jr.;

West Texas A&M: Belinda Castanon, Sr.