Oct. 31, 2007

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - For his efforts in the classroom and on the trails, Navy runner John Kress (Sr./Colorado Springs, Colo.) has been recognized as the 2007 Patriot League Men's Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the league office announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Kress becomes the first Navy runner to earn the Patriot League's Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year kudos in men's cross country since joining the league in 2003.

"In a league that prides itself on four-year degrees and academia, I am sure that John's folks are quite proud of him, as am I." stated Navy head coach Al Cantello. "He has grown into a man this year. After overcoming mono last spring, he has been a leader by example. Reticent to a fault, but a dogged leader."

This year's team captain, Kress earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors for the second-straight year after finishing fifth at the league championship last Saturday. He has boasted Navy's fastest time in two races this season and been among the squad's top-two runners in all six races he has raced in this fall. Kress has finished among the overall top-10 runners in five of his six meets in 2007, four of which he landed in the top five.

During the Navy Invitational on Sept. 15, Kress produced the 14th-fastest Navy time in USNA Cross Country Course history with a blistering 24:14.9 clocking. His effort was only 27.1 seconds off the school record held by Ron Harris (23:47.8) during the 1986 campaign.

In the classroom, Kress ranks 85th out of his class of 1,085 midshipmen with a 3.82 cumulative grade point average while majoring in aerospace engineering. The native of Colorado Springs, Colo., has been honored on the Superintendent's List four times during his career and on the Commandant's List in each of his first-six semesters in Annapolis. The two-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member has earned a 4.0 semester grade point average three times over his first-three years.

To be eligible for the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete-of-the-Year award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and be a starter or key player in his sport. Freshmen are not eligible for this honor.

Kress and the Midshipmen, ranked eighth in the region by the USTFCCCA, return to action on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Championship in Bethlehem, Pa.