Dec. 8, 2010

IRVING, Texas - East Carolina junior cross country runner Zack Montijo was one of nine male athletes selected to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, according to an announcement from the league office Wednesday afternoon. Four seniors, seven juniors and four sophomores make up this season's two squads.

Montijo boasts a 3.55 grade-point average as a history major and is a two-time Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll selection. Most recently, he was an East Carolina Dean's List member for the spring 2010 semester.

The Lansdale, Pa., native had a strong season for the Pirates, pacing the team four times while turning in four top-25 finishes and earning Third Team All-Conference USA honors. Montijo began the year setting the school record for a 6,400-meter race with a time of 20:32.11 at the Covered Bridge Open. In his next meet, the Wolfpack Invitational, he tied for third on the ECU all-time 5K list with a career-best 15:23.1 performance to claim seventh place.

In his second 8K of the season, at the Greater Louisville Classic, the junior ran a then career-best 24:56.96 and came in 79th out of 323 runners. At the Conference USA meet, he earned his second career league honor by coming in 18th at the 8K event with a personal-best time of 24:36. The mark was also the seventh fastest in program history.

Montijo ended year at the NCAA Southeast Regional with the 20th-best 10K in the Pirate record book, completing the meet in 33:04.12 to come in 102nd overall.

2010 C-USA Cross Country Men's All-Academic Team
Name, School, Year, GPA, Major
Zach Montijo, East Carolina, Junior, 3.55, History
David Smith, Houston, Sophomore, 3.74, American Sign Language
Curtis Gibbs, Memphis, Senior, 3.89, Economics
*Matt Carey, Rice, Junior, 4.271, Chemistry (Pre-Med), Mathematical Economic Analysis
*Gabe Cuadra, Rice, Junior, 3.70, Mathematical Economic Analysis
*Mike Mainguy, Tulane, Junior, 3.944, Neuroscience
Carl Stones, Tulsa, Junior, 3.67, Exercise Sports Science
Justice Chirchir, UTEP, Sophomore, 3.22, Nursing
Solomon Gardea, UTEP, Sophomore, 3.58, Mechanical Engineering

2010 C-USA Cross Country Women's All-Academic Team
Name, School, Year, GPA, Major
Allison Pye, Rice, Senior, 3.960, Kinesiology, Policy Studies
Britany Williams, Rice, Senior, 3.740, Sports Management, Psychology Minor: Business
Stephanie Ledgerwood, Southern Miss, Sophomore, 4.00, Biological Sciences
Paula Whiting, Tulsa, Junior, 3.90, Exercise Sports Science
Katie Wright, Tulsa, Senior, 3.44, Exercise Sports Science
*Rhiannon Johns, UAB, Junior, 4.00, Mathematics

*Repeat Selection

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