Men's Cross Country lands three Academic All-OAC honorees
By Caleb Scott
ADA — The No. 25-ranked Ohio Northern men's cross country team saw three athletes earn Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference for the 2016 season.
Seniors Andrew Kurtz (Toledo/Saint John's), Andrew Harden (Vandalia/Vandalia-Butler), and junior Michael Murray (Strongsville/Strongsville) each earned the honor.
The award winners must be a sophomore or higher in class standing, maintain varsity status and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50.
Kurtz, a Physics major, earned his second Academic All-OAC honor as a Polar Bear.
The senior has appeared in three races this season and has a season-best time of 27:59.
Harden, a Mechanical Engineering major, was named Academic All-OAC for the first time in his four-year career at ONU.
Andrew has appeared in six races for Northern and has six top-7 finishes.
The senior finished first among Div. III school athletes at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational and also won the individual OAC Championship title.
Harden also ran a career-best 25:12 at the NCAA III Regional meet at Holland (Mich.).
Murray, a Chemistry major from Strongsville, earned his second Academic All-OAC honor.
The junior has appeared in five races and posted a career-best time of 28:27 at the OAC Championships at Cedarville.
Northern returns to the course Saturday as they travel to Louisville, Ky. to compete in the NCAA III Championships after earning an at large bid.
The men's race is scheduled to begin at noon, following the women's race.