NEW ORLEANS – Slippery Rock University led the nation with five men’s cross country runners named to 2008 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic honors.

The Rock was joined by Christian Brothers and Western State in placing five student-athletes on the 2008 All-Academic cross country teams.

In order to be eligible for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must carry 12 credit hours of coursework, hold above a 3.25 cumulative GPA and finish in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships or top 50 percent at the National Championships.

The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference led all Division II conferences with 29 male student-athletes named to the All-Academic team.

Headlining the list of The Rock’s 2008 selections are All-Americans Jeff Weiss and Pat Reagan.

Weiss, a senior physical education major from Avella, Pa., placed eighth at the National Championships this fall and also finished third at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships.

Reagan, a senior exercise science major from Masontown, Pa., finished 34th at the National Championships and fourth at the regional meet.

Joining Weiss and Reagan are Brian Ulrich, Evan Matthews and Kevin Dustin.

Ulrich, a senior exercise science major from Duncannon, Pa., placed 36th at the regional meet.

Matthews, a junior exercise science major from Brilliant, Ohio, finished 57 in the region.

Dustin, a junior exercise science major from Elizabeth, Pa., earned the honor with a 62nd-place finish at regionals.

The Rock men’s cross country team placed second in the PSAC and third in the NCAA Atlantic Region this fall. Slippery Rock served as the host for the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships and the NCAA Division II National Championships.

Slippery Rock’s women also placed five student-athletes on the USTFCCCA All-Academic teams, including Katie Bork, Crystal Burnick, Jenn Harpp, Leslie Kramer and Laura Mucho.