Cross Country Runners Named to All-Academic Team

MARS HILL, N.C.-- Five Mars Hill men's cross country student-athletes and one women's cross country student-athlete were named by the USTFCCCA as Division II All-Academic honorees.

Men's cross country runners Joshua Adcock, Eric Blackburn, Derek Gibson, Justin Gragg and Kit Powell, and women's cross country runner Jessica Viscusi received the honor. In order to qualify, each runner must have competed in the NCAA Division II Regional Championship Meet and not only finish in the top 30 percent of the race, but have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or better. Blackburn, Gragg and Powell also earned All-Region honors for being Top 15 overall finishers at the event.

This is the third time Blackburn and Gragg have been named to the All-Academic Team. Powell is a second-time All-Academic member, while Adcock, Gibson and Viscusi were first-time honorees.

The collective acadmic and athletic excellence of both cross country teams was also recognized by the USTFCCCA. Both teams were named All-Academic. The women's team has now been honored each of the 16 years since the award was established. This is the third consecutive season the men's team has been honored, and the eighth time in program history.