• The 2009 Men's Track & Cross Country Academic All-America Teams (PDF)

University of Evansville senior-to-be cross country runner and Evansville native Brian Joyce made history on Thursday, as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team for track and cross country by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  Joyce is the first UE cross country runner to earn Academic All-America honors, and is the 40th University of Evansville student-athlete overall to earn the official Academic All-America title.

Joyce, a former standout at Evansville Central High School, has been one of UE’s best in the classroom and the cross country course since first stepping foot on the UE campus three years ago.  In the classroom, Joyce owns a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average in exercise science at UE, with hopes of pursuing his doctorate in physical therapy after graduation.  On the cross country course, Joyce has consistently been a member of UE’s scoring pack throughout his Purple Aces’ career, and this year, he earned UE’s Most Improved Runner award after cutting nearly 25 seconds off of both his previous-best 8-K and 10-K times this season.

“Brian really epitomizes what UE cross country is all about,” said UE cross country coach Don Walters.  “He has been a success on the cross country course, but more importantly, he has also been a success in the classroom.  He works extremely hard to succeed in both areas and takes great pride in his work, and it shows in the results that he posts both on the cross country course and in the classroom. 

“I am extremely proud and excited for Brian to win this award, as he is very deserving of the honor.  There are a lot of great cross country and track student-athletes who also shine in the classroom, but still, very few receive this type of honor.  I could not be more proud though of Brian for receiving this award.”

Joyce became the first male cross country runner in school history to earn Academic All-District V honors two weeks ago in a vote by CoSIDA members.  He also received the Missouri Valley Conference’s Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award earlier this spring for his work in the classroom.  It is the league’s highest academic award for non-seniors.

Joyce will be one of 16 letterwinners returning this fall for the UE men’s cross country team, including being one of eight competitors returning from UE’s 2008 State Farm MVC Championship squad which posted the school’s best MVC Championship team finish in UE’s 15 years in the league last fall.  The 2009 cross country season will get underway on Saturday, September 5, when the Purple Aces host the sixth-annual Mid-America Opener at the UE Cross Country Course, located at 20404 Barton Road in Evansville.