Kemboi Named A-Sun Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Oden Earns All-Academic Nods
11/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Katie Parker, kparker@uscupstate.edu
MACON, Ga. – Senior Gilbert Kemboi (Eldoret, Kenya) of the USC Upstate men's cross country team picked-up his second-straight Atlantic Sun Conference Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor as announced by the league office Wednesday morning, while junior Ross Oden (Salisbury, N.C.) was an Academic All-Conference selection.
Kemboi holds a 3.518 cumulative GPA, while majoring in sociology. The senior won his third A-Sun Cross Country Championship Oct. 27, helping the Spartans claim back-to-back conference team titles. He became the third athlete in league history to win three individual cross country titles and the only three-time winner from the current member institutions.
The Eldoret, Kenya native recorded the third fastest time in A-Sun meet history at this year's championship with a time of 24:16.70. Kemboi posted a season-best time of 23:59 Sept. 29 at the Paul Short Invitational. He went on to collect his 10th career A-Sun Runner of the Week honor Oct. 3 for the most in A-Sun cross country history and tying for the most weekly honors across all sports in the conference's record books.
"We are proud of both Gilbert and Ross for making the All-Academic Team," said Upstate Associate Head Coach Carson Blackwelder. "They have not only proven themselves as All-A-Sun athletes, but as great students. They are the ideal definition of student-athletes."
Oden was named to the Academic All-Conference team, boasting a 3.379 GPA as a chemistry major. He also helped Upstate to its second-straight A-Sun championship, earning Second Team All-Conference honors at the A-Sun meet. The junior crossed the line 12th with a personal-best time of 25:25.80. Oden recorded his second-best time this season Sept. 28 at the Paul Short Invitational, clocking in at 26:11.
Kemboi, Oden and the rest of the Spartans return to action Friday, traveling to Charlotte, N.C., to compete in the NCAA Southeast Regionals. Follow Upstate this season on your mobile device, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
