Five Harriers Earn USCAA National All-Academic Cross Country Team Honors

BROOKLYN, N.Y. – In recognition of their outstanding performances in the classroom and in the field, St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) seniors Paul Milazzo (Port Jefferson, N.Y./Connetquot), Joe Mendez (Glendale, N.Y./St. Francis Prep) and John Moore (Glendale, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) from men's cross country and juniors Kristin D'Chiutiis (Brooklyn, N.Y./Scholars Academy) and Lauren Conter (Glendale, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) from women's cross country have been named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National All-Academic Team.

Milazzo was the first Bear across the finish line in all five races this season, concluding his career with a personal-best time of 27:41 on an 8k course at the Hudson Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (HVIAC) Championships good for a season-best 6th place finish. The senior adds to All-HVIAC Team and AD3I All-Independent Second Team honors received earlier this season.

Mendez ran in all five races for St. Joseph's this season with his best result coming at the HVIAC Championships where he turned in a 43rd place finish with a career-best mark of 37:07 on the 8k course. The Student-Athlete Advisiory Committee (SAAC) president receives USCAA All-Academic honors for the first time in his career and was a HVMAC All-Academic honoree last season.

Moore appeared in three races for the Bears which included a 49th place finish at the season-ending HVIAC Championships where he posted a career-best time of 46:42. A multi-sport athlete and Student Government Association (SGA) vice-president and SAAC vice-president, Moore has received numerous All-Academic citations from the USCAA, AD3I and HVMAC in cross country, basketball and soccer over his four-year career.

D'Chiutiis made an appearance in all four meets for the Lady Bears in her rookie season with the team. The junior set a career-best 5k time of 27:03 at the season-ending HVIAC Championships resulting in a 56th place finish.

Conter appeared in all five races for the Lady Bears with her season-best finish coming at the CSI Invitational where she finished in 55th place with a time of 30:24. The junior set a new personal best with her time of 27:42 on the 5k course at the HVIAC Championships. Conter was an AD3I and HVWAC All-Academic honoree last season.

USCAA National All-Academic Team members must be sophomore academic standing or higher and maintain a minimum cumulative 3.5 grade point average in order to qualify.