RELEASE DATE: 7/15/08

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Chris Cummings named USTFCCCA National NCAA Division II Indoor Track Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Cummings, Bryan Falcone and Dave Sanford named to the 2008 USTFCCCA Division II Men's All-Academic Track and Field Team – Men’s and Women’s Team’s earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Team honors.

MANSFIELD – Chris Cummings may have run his final collegiate race in May, but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to receive an onslaught of national, regional and state-wide honors.

The Mansfield native, who last week was named the top male scholar-athlete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, was selected as the 2008 NCAA Division II National Scholar-Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

“You just can’t do any better,” said Mansfield head coach Mike Rohl. “Even when he’s not running, Chris is amazing. Being named the national Scholar-Athlete of the Year means there is no one in the country who better combines athletic ability and academic success.”

In addition to being name the top indoor male scholar-athlete in the country, Cummings, along with teammates Bryan Falcone and Dave Sanford, was named to the 2008 USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

A total of 109 student-athletes representing 44 Division II institutions made up the men’s 2008 All-Academic team.

Cummings earned All-American honors at the NCAA Division II National Championship this season when he was edged out at the finish to finish second in the mile run. He repeated All-American honors at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championship by finishing fifth in the 1,500 meters.

Falcone and Sanford were teammates of Cummings on the DMR relay team that finished ninth at the national indoor championship.

In addition to individual honors, the men’s indoor and outdoor track team was on of just 27 teams in the nation to earn USTFCCCA Division II Men’s All-Academic Track and Field Team honors.

To be nominated for USTFCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team honors, a team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade-point average for the academic year.

The MU women’s track and cross country team was also named a USTFCCA All-Academic Team for the fifth straight year.