SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth's Ben Spaun has been named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII Men's Track & Field/Cross Country college division team.

Spaun (Jr., Wenatchee, Wash.) is a physics major with a 3.99 grade point average through January. He excelled on the track this season, winning Northwest Conference titles in the 110 meter high hurdles and the 400 hurdles. He was also third in the conference decathlon competition.

Spaun qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the decathlon, finishing in 9th place with 6,518 points, his best score ever.

The Academic All-District VIII Men's Track & Field/Cross Country team included ten individuals. The individuals are nominated by their institutions' sports information directors and the 10 selections are made by a subsequent vote of district SIDs. District VIII in the college division comprises all non-NCAA Division I institutions west of the Rocky Mountains.

This year marks the 56th year of the Academic All-America program. Over 15,000 students have been named Academic All-America team members at colleges and universities at all levels for every recognized NCAA sport.