Gustavus Adolphus senior cross country runners Sarah Bernhardson and Chris deLaubenfels have been named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Cross-Country All-Academic Teams. A total of 353 runners, 150 men and 203 women, from over 100 Division III institutions were selected for the teams.
Bernhardson, an international management and political science double major, was the top Gustavus finisher at the NCAA Central Region Meet with a 24th-place finish in a time of 23:14. The Eden Prairie, Minn. native earned all-region honors for the second consecutive season. Bernhardson is the daughter of John and Kathy Bernhardson of Eden Prairie and a 2004 graduate of Eden Prairie High School.
deLaubenfels, a political science and philosophy honors double major, finished in 11th-place in 25:35 to earn all-region honors, earning a chance to compete at the NCAA Championships. The Mount Vernon, Iowa native then turned in a 54th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, which was the best finish at the national meet for a male Gustavus runner since Steffan Freeman finished 54th at the 1998 championships. deLaubenfels is the son of Tony and Jill deLaubenfels of Mount Vernon and a 2004 graduate of Mount Vernon High School.
The 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 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.