Vail Earns Third First-Team Academic All-America Honor

STILLWATER, Okla. – For the third consecutive year, Oklahoma State runner Ryan Vail earned a first-team spot on the ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America Men’s Track and Field and Cross Country team, it was announced today. Vail is the first three-time ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA first-team Academic All-American in Oklahoma State history.

A native of Gresham, Ore., Vail served as the team captain of Oklahoma State’s NCAA and Big 12-champion cross country team in 2009. He finished seventh at the NCAA Championships to secure the fifth All-America honor of his career. Additionally, he was crowned as the Big 12 individual cross country champion, marking the third time in his career that he earned the title of Big 12 champ.

Immediately after winning the 2009 cross country NCAA championship, OSU head coach Dave Smith said that the Cowboys’ entire strategy at the event hinged around the team following Vail’s lead as he was the unquestioned leader of an OSU squad that produced four All-Americans.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

2010 ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-America

Men’s Cross Country and Track and Field Team

Name School Cl. GPA Major

Philip Adam Rice Jr. 3.95 Economics

Gonzalo Barroilhet Florida State Jr. 3.84 Management

John Berens Rice Sr. 4.00 Biochemistry & Cell Biology/ Psych.

Jack Bolas Wisconsin Sr. 3.67 Zoology

Chris Dickman Wichita State Gr. 3.95 Mechanical Engineering

Nicholas Gordon Nebraska Jr. 3.46 Political Science

Cyrus Hostetler Oregon Sr. 3.62 Art

Brian Joyce Evansville Sr. 4.00 Exercise Science

Chris Labosky Yale Sr. 3.98 Humanities