By MATTHEW RICKETTS
For the second year in a row the BYU men’s cross country team has finished in the top five academically in the national rankings.
BYU’s 18-man cross country squad posted a 3.30 grade point average and was selected fourth best in the nation for 1996, according to the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association.
Creighton University was first at 3.38, followed by North Carolina State 3.36, Xavier University 3.32, BYU 3.30, Indiana State 3.29, Weber State 3.29, Central Michigan 3.26, Michigan 3.24, Yale 3.23, and Arkansas State 3.21. The first seven teams were cited for all-academic with distinction.
“Not only are we the largest squads size-wise in the top seven, but we may be one of the youngest,” says BYU men’s cross country coach Sherald James. “This is commendable for as young of a squad as we had.”
In 1995, BYU was number one in the nation with a 3.47 GPA, followed by Yale 3.34, Utah 3.33, and Weber State was eighth at 3.22.
James, who is in his 35th year at the helm, was selected national coach of the year in 1993. He has coached BYU to 10 WAC crowns, coached runners to 58 All-American awards and been named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year seven times. Under James’ tutelage, BYU has finished second, fourth, fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 18th in NCAA Cross Country Championships.
