SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University's Ben Spaun and Cody Stelzer have been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII Men's Track & Field/Cross Country college division team.
Spaun (Sr., Wenatchee, Wash.) is a physics and math major with a 3.99 grade point average. Now a two-time Academic All-District selection, Spaun had an outstanding season - winning Northwest Conference titles in the 110 meter high hurdles and 400 hurdles. He also led off the NWC-winning 4x400 relay and finished third in the conference decathlon competition with and automatic NCAA qualifying score of 6,641 points. Spaun, who has been awarded a six year graduate scholarship to Harvard University, was the 2008 NWC Outstanding Men's Track and Field Athlete. Stelzer (So., The Dalles, Ore.) is a biology major with a 3.63 grade point average. Stelzer won the high jump at last month's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field championships by clearing 6'-11.5", which tied his own school record. The national title marked Stelzer's fourth NCAA All-America performance in the high jump after he finished as national runner-up at the 2008 NCAA DIII Indoor meet, finished third at the 2007 outdoor championship meet and sixth at the 2007 indoor competition. Stelzer also won the high jump at the NWC Championships with a meet record mark of 6'-10.75". 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 76th 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. |
