SPOKANE, Wash. - Whitworth University's Ben Spaun and Cody Stelzer have been named to the 2008 ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Academic All-America Men's Track & Field / Cross Country college division team. Spaun, who was a Third Team selection last year, is a First Team honoree this season. Stelzer is a Third Team choice.

Ben Spaun

Cody Stelzer

Spaun (Wenatchee, Wash.) graduated in May as a physics and math major with a 3.99 grade point average. The first track and field man from Whitworth to be a two-time Academic All-America selection, Spaun had an outstanding senior 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.

Kristen Shields was a two-time Academic All-America for the track and field women in 2003 and 2004.

Stelzer (The Dalles, Ore.) is a biology major who had a 3.63 grade point average through Jan Term of his sophomore year. 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 ESPN The Magazine / CoSIDA Men's Academic All-America Track and Field / Cross Country teams included 30 individuals, ten on each of the three teams. There were 80 Academic All-District winners throughout the country considered for the All-America teams. The individuals are nominated by their institutions' sports information directors and the 10 all-district selections for each of the eight districts are made by a subsequent vote of member SIDs.

This year marks the 57th 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.