FRISCO, Texas - McNeese distance runner
Gideon Cheplak has been named to the Southland Conference All-Academic Cross Country team, garnering first team honors, the league office announced on Thursday.
Cheplak compiled a 3.07 grade point average in general studies with a focus on applied and natural science.
The Kenya native native was an automatic selection after he earned first team all-conference honors and was named the league's Newcomer of the Year following a second place finish at the SLC Cross Country Championships back in February
Southland Conference All-Academic Teams are voted upon by a head coach, sports information director and academic/compliance staff member from each school. Student-Athletes of the Year are voted upon by an awards committee which consists of one administrator from each member school. Voting for one's own athletes is not permitted.
To be eligible for all-academic distinction, an athlete must hold a minimum 3.00 cumulative grade point average through the semester prior to the sport's championship, completed at least one full academic year at the nominating school prior to the current season, and participated in at least 50 percent of the team's competitions during the most recently completed season
Student-Athlete of the Year nominees must hold at least a 3.20 GPA and have completed at least two years of athletic competition at the nominating institution.
First Team All-Conference athletes (top five finishers at the Southland Cross Country Championships) who meet all-academic nomination criteria and are nominated for the academic award are automatically named First Team All-Academic selections.
Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year:Â Dennis Kipngeno, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Men's Cross Country All-Academic First Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Eli Peveto
|
Lamar
|
So.
|
Orange, Texas
|
4.0
|
Computer Science
|
|
Gideon Cheplak*
|
McNeese
|
Jr.
|
Kenya
|
3.07
|
General Studies – Applied & Natural Science
|
|
Adam Cortez
|
Southeastern La.
|
Sr.
|
El Paso, Texas
|
3.72
|
Communications
|
|
Grant O'Callaghan*
|
Southeastern La.
|
Sr.
|
Flowery Branch, Ga.
|
3.25
|
Kinesiology
|
|
Dennis Kipngeno*
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
So.
|
Nakuru, Kenya
|
3.58
|
Pre-Nursing
|
Â
Men's Cross Country All-Academic Second Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Alex Hanson
|
Central Arkansas
|
Sr.
|
Thatcham, England
|
4.0
|
Business Management
|
|
Max Nores
|
Central Arkansas
|
So.
|
Aachen, Germany
|
3.75
|
Psychology
|
|
Andrew Bosquez
|
Sam Houston
|
Sr.
|
Hobbs, N.M.
|
3.02
|
Sociology
|
|
Anthony Cordero
|
Southeastern La.
|
Sr.
|
El Paso, Texas
|
3.04
|
Engineering Technology
|
|
Tristan Stellmach
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
Sr.
|
Queen Creek, Ariz.
|
4.0
|
General Business
|
Â
Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Year:Â Irene Rono, Abilene Christian
Women's Cross Country All-Academic First Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Irene Rono*
|
Abilene Christian
|
So.
|
Eldama Ravine, Kenya
|
3.52
|
Nursing
|
|
Arina Kleshchukova*
|
New Orleans
|
Jr.
|
Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
|
3.81
|
Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Administration
|
|
Sophie Daigle*
|
Southeastern La.
|
Sr.
|
Donaldsville, La.
|
3.22
|
Kinesiology
|
|
Kelsey Ramirez*
|
Stephen F. Austin
|
Sr.
|
La Porte, Texas
|
3.87
|
Kinesiology
|
|
Valentina Campos*
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
Sr.
|
Comfort, Texas
|
3.03
|
Kinesiology – Sports Management
|
Â
Women's Cross Country All-Academic Second Team
|
Name
|
School
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Tamara Reeves
|
Central Arkansas
|
So.
|
Christchurch, New Zealand
|
3.52
|
Family and Consumer Science
|
|
Kennedy Timmerman
|
Central Arkansas
|
Jr.
|
Ozark, Ark.
|
3.96
|
Communications/Journalism
|
|
Elsa Rijpstra
|
Nicholls
|
So.
|
Oentsjerk, The Netherlands
|
4.0
|
Allied Health Sciences
|
|
Cryslan Tucker
|
Sam Houston
|
Jr.
|
White Oak, Texas
|
3.40
|
Health Sciences
|
|
Quin Johnson
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
|
Jr.
|
San Tan Valley, Ariz.
|
4.0
|
Criminal Justice
|
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