Monday, December 21, 2009

Chris Bednarczyk (Westfield, Ind./Westfield), Alyssa Bradford (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) and Lindsey Gilman (South Bend, Ind./Marian) represented the Valparaiso men’s and women’s cross country squads on the respective Horizon League Academic All-League teams.

Bednarczyk competed in five races this season for the Crusaders, running a career-best 6K time of 22:10 at the season-opening Crusader Invitational.  The junior carries a 3.955 cumulative GPA as a meteorology major.  He earned Horizon League Academic Honor Roll recognition both semesters last year, and has received Dean’s List recognition and Presidential academic honors during his time at Valpo.

Bradford ran in all six races this year for Valpo, placing among the Crusaders’ top five runners on five occasions.  She paced all Valpo runners at both the Horizon League Championships and the NCAA Great Lakes regional.  The senior carries a 3.972 cumulative GPA as an exercise science major.  A CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-District V selection last year, she earned Academic All-League recognition during both the indoor and outdoor track campaigns in 2009 as well.

Gilman also competed in all six races for the Crusaders this year, finishing among Valpo’s top-five in every outing.  She led the way for the Crusaders in both the Commodore Classic and the Notre Dame Invitational.  Also a CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine First Team Academic All-District V selection last year, Gilman carries a 3.990 cumulative GPA as a chemistry major.  This marks her second straight year earning Academic All-League honors for the cross country campaign.