Briefs – March 15

UVU cross country squads receive Division I All-Academic team status

Both of Utah Valley University’s cross country teams were recognized for their high GPAs when they received 2009 NCAA Division I USTFCCCA Men’s and Women’s Cross Country All-Academic Team status, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.

UVU’s men’s team posted the seventh best team cumulative GPA in the nation, finishing with an impressive 3.55. The Wolverine women’s team was also honored as they put together a 3.34 team cumulative GPA.

UVU’s Ben Kjar, Flint Ray and Brad Darrington qualify for nationals

UVU wrestlers Benjamin Kjar (125 pounds), Flint Ray (133) and Brad Darrington (174) became the first athletes in school history to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any sport when the trio punched their tickets Saturday at the NCAA West Regional at South Dakota State.

Even more impressive was that the Wolverine trio qualified for nationals in UVU’s first year of eligibility as a full-fledged member of NCAA Division I athletics and Flint Ray also became UVU’s first-ever conference champion with his win in the 133 pound weight class. As a team, Utah Valley finished in fourth place, just one point shy of North Dakota State who took third. Wyoming won the conference title with Northern Iowa took second.