Five Polar Bears named Academic All-OAC in Men's Cross Country
By Tim Glon
ADA — Five Ohio Northern student-athletes were named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference in men's cross country for the 2017 season.
Seniors Michael Murray (Strongsville) and Evan Murtha (Pickerington/North) and sophomores Kyle Neff (Sagamore Hills/Walsh Jesuit), Bryan Peck (Westerville/North) and Andrew Shelton (Williamsville, N.Y./South) all received 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.
Murray, a chemistry major, has completed in 24 career races and has posted a career-low time of 28:27.
He is now a three-time Academic All-OAC honoree.
Murtha is majoring in pharmacy and has completed in 24 career races.
His career-best effort of 27:56 came this season at the All-Ohio Championships.
Neff ran his career-low time of 28:29 this season at the Calvin (Mich.) Knight Invitational.
He is majoring in accounting.
Peck is an electrical engineering/physics major.
He posted a top-7 finish at the Tiffelberg Invitational and ran a career-low 27:37 at the Calvin (Mich.) Knight Invitational.
Shelton ran his career-low time of 27:15 at the OAC Championships, where he finished 46th out of 141 runners.
He is majoring in mechanical engineering.
The No. 26-ranked Polar Bears are 113-19 on the season and won the OAC Championships title for the second consecutive season inn 2017 under ninth-year head coach Jason Maus.
Ohio Northern will compete at the NCAA III Championships on Saturday at Elsah, Ill.