SPOKANE, Wash. - Andrew Lybarger (Spokane, Wash.) earned the highest GPA among all GNAC male cross country runners as he is one of six Seattle University cross country student-athletes named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference Team, announced Wednesday morning by the conference office.
Lybarger, on the GNAC Academic Team for the third consecutive year, holds a 3.96 grade point average while majoring in mechanical engineering. Lybarger has been one of the team's top runners all season, finishing 50th at the GNAC Championships on Oct. 28. He is joined on the men's cross country academic team by junior Lucas Franco (Lopez Island, Wash.), who has a 3.66 grade point average and is majoring in political science.
Four members of Seattle's women's cross country made the academic team, led by sophomore Katie Hansen (Portland, Ore.). Hansen, the team's leading runner until a foot injury ended her season prematurely, is majoring in English and presently carries a 3.82 grade point average. Charisse Arce (Seattle, Wash.) made the team for the second consecutive season, earning a 3.53 grade point average while majoring in marketing.
Rhiannon Cadelinia (San Francisco, Calif.), an arts and sciences pre-major with a 3.62 grade point average, was the team's top finisher at the GNAC Championships, finishing in 41st place. Fellow sophomore Natalie Martinez (San Francisco, Calif.) also earned the academic honor, majoring in biology with a 3.30 grade point average.
To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 and be in at least their second year of competition at their university.
The Seattle cross country teams are preparing for the NCAA West Regionals, to be held at the Forebay Aquatics Center in Oroville, Calif., on Saturday, Nov, 4.