Feb. 26, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - Navy men's cross country runners John Kress (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) and John Olsen (Sr./Staten Island, N.Y.) are among an elite group of 59 runners that earned 2007 U.S. Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic recognition, it was announced on Monday.

Kress, the 2007 Patriot League Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, captured All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors by virtue of his 16th-place finish at the regional championship and earned First-Team All-Patriot League kudos for the second-straight year. He boasted Navy's top time in three of the seven meets and landed among the overall ten-fastest runners in five races.

The Navy senior has been equally impressive in his academic endeavors, as he owns 3.82 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in aerospace engineering. A three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member, he produced a 3.81 grade-point average during the fall semester. He earned Superintendent's List recognition for the fifth time in his career last semester and will serve as a Marine Corps pilot following graduation in May.

Olsen also delivered a strong senior season on the cross country trails, as he also worked his way to All-Mid-Atlantic Region Team with a 17th-place showing at the NCAA regional and First-Team All-Patriot League kudos. The Staten Island, N.Y., native owned Navy's best time in four meets and finished among the overall top-five runners five times.

In the classroom, Olsen has echoed his athletic success with a 3.31 cumulative grade-point average while majoring in history. The three-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member posted a 3.20 grade-point average last semester en route to Commandant's List recognition for the sixth time. After commissioning in May, Kress will head into the Navy aviation community.

To be eligible for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, one must have finished either among the top-15 runners or top-10 percent of his NCAA regional or earn All-America honors and carry at least a 3.25 cumulative grade-point average with at least 24 semester hours through the fall 2007 semester.