ALL-AMERICA | ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA

Washington University's men's and women's cross country programs, at the front of the University Athletic Association (UAA) pack, continue their emergence on the national scene.

Under seventh-year head coach Jeff Stiles, the Bears enjoyed more national success in 2007. The women, who won their third-straight Midwest Region title, placed third at the NCAA Championship, matching WU's all-time best finish, and marking the their fifth top-four finish over the last six seasons. Senior Tricia Frisella, Tyler Mulkin and Kate Pentak were earned All-America honors. It was the first time in school history that three runners earned All-America recognition in the same season. The women's squad also won the 2007 UAA championship.

The 2006 season was a banner year for the WU cross country program. The women's squad won the NCAA Midwest Region title and finished in fourth place at the NCAA Championships. Seniors Beth Herndon and junior Tricia Frisella garnered All-America honors. Meanwhile, the men continued their ascent in Division III, qualifying for the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1997, and fourth time overall.

In 2005, the women's squad placed third at the NCAA Championships, matching the best women's finish in school history (third, 2004). Besides their NCAA success, the women, 2005 Midwest Region champions, also won the University Athletic Association (UAA) title for the fourth-straight year. On the men's side, WU finished fourth at the conference meet, and senior Brennan Bonner and junior Kevin Gale individually qualified for the NCAA Championships. The Bears also made history in 2003 when both the men's and women's teams captured the UAA title. It was the first time in school history that both squads won the conference championship the same season. The women's program added a UAA title in 2002, as well as the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship for the first time in school history. It also finished a then-program-best fourth place at the NCAA Championships. That came on the heels of a successful 2001 campaign. The men won their third-straight UAA title, while the women made their second-consecutive NCAA Championship meet appearance.

Emily Richard became the first women's runner in school history to earn All-America honors following a fifth-place finish at the 1997 NCAA Championships. She followed that with an eighth-place finish, also good for All-America honors, at the 1998 NCAA Championships. Beth Herndon (Class of 2007) matched Richard's top-NCAA finish by taking fifth place at the 2006 NCAA Championships, giving Herndon her second All-America citation.

All told, the Bears have won 13 UAA titles (nine women, four men), qualified as a team for the NCAA Championships 11 times (seven women, four men) and sent 32 individual qualifiers to the Championships. Since 1997, the Bears have also produced 14 All-Americans; eight individuals have combined to total those 14 All-America honors.