Four Cross Country Student-Athletes Earn USCAA National All-Academic Honors

BROOKLYN, N.Y.—In recognition of their outstanding achievements on the field and in the classroom Thomas Rushin (Ocoee, Fla./Ocoee) and Anthony Texter (Ridgewood, N.Y.) from men's cross country and Lauren Conter (Glendale, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) and Kristin Ferrigno (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Kearney) from women's cross country were named to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) National All-Academic Team.

Rushin was honored with the All-Academic Team award as a sophomore as well. He ran in four races for St. Joseph's this season and was the Bears' top finisher twice. In the York College Invitational 6K on September 21, he finished 16th of 51 and first amongst his St. Joseph's teammates with a time of 34 minutes flat. The junior ran his best race of the season in the HVIAC Championship 8K, leading his team with a time of 33:54 and finishing 13th of 43 runners.

Texter, a junior, competed in two races this season. On September 28, he finished the CSI Invitational 5k in 34:06.6 and on October 14 he completed the Medgar Evers Invitational 5K with a time of 35:21. Texter is a first-time recipient of the All-Academic honor.

Conter, now a three-time All-Academic recipient, appeared in six races for the Lady Bears this season. Her fastest performance came in the Medgar Evars Invitational on October 14, where she completed the two-mile course in 16:55, placing seventh. The senior also finished 42nd in the HVIAC Championship 5K with a time of 30:15.

Ferrigno is another first-time All-Academic recipient. The sophomore competed in four races this year. The highlight of Ferrigno's season was a personal best time of 24:35.03 in the NJIT Invitational 5K event on September 28.

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.