Nov. 27, 2006

Cleveland, Ohio - The Mid-American Conference announced that Northern Illinois' cross country runners Meghan Ginter (Aurora, Ill.) and Jessica Schauff (Dixon, Ill.) have been named to the Academic All-MAC team, as voted by faculty athletic representatives at MAC institutions.

"I am honored to have ladies that value academics and athletics as much as Meghan and Jessica," NIU head cross country coach Connie Teaberry said. "Our coaching staff is extremely proud of their accomplishments both on and off the cross country course."

Ginter, a sophomore, was the Huskies' top runner in five out of the Huskies' eight races this season. Her most impressive performance was a fourth-place outing of 23:42.7 in leading NIU to its fifth consecutive Benedictine Eagle Invitational title. The Aurora, Ill., native carries a GPA of 3.9 in Nursing and actively participates in the NIU CHAMPS / Life Skills program.

Schauff, a senior, was a recipient of the award last season and has a GPA of 3.86 in Accounting. She competed in all eight of the NIU Cross Country meets this season, with her most impressive performance coming with an eighth-place finish of 23:51.5, helping the Huskies to their fifth consecutive Benedictine Eagle Invitational title. The Dixon, Ill., native is an active participant in the NIU CHAMPS / Life Skills program.

Senior Jessica Schauff was named to the Academic All-MAC Cross Country team for the second year in a row.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.

--NIU--