Five Augustana student-athletes have been named to the 2006-07 Academic All-North Central Conference Cross Country/Track & Field Teams, the league office announced today. Headlining the group are repeat selections
Jen Buyske and
Rob Ihry. They are joined on the teams by
Bobbi Jo Buyck,
Chad Backsen and
Bart Johnson.
Buyske, a junior from Shelby, Mont., and Ihry, a senior from Fargo, N.D., were named to the academic all-conference team for the second time, while Buyck, Backsen and Johnson make their first appearance on the teams.
Buyske carries a 3.93 grade point average as a government major. She is a two-time All-American in the javelin, including the 2005 national champion. She is currently ranked 8th in the nation heading into this week's national championships.
Ihry is a biology major with a 3.80 grade point average. He, along with Backsen and Johnson, helped the Viking men's cross country team finish 3rd at the NCC championships, 5th at regionals and 21st at nationals. Individually, Ihry was 30th at the conference cross country meet. In track and field, he was 8th in the indoor 5,000 meter run and 5th in the outdoor 5,000 meter run.
Buyck is a sophomore nursing major from Garvin, Minn., with a 3.95 GPA. The school record holder in the indoor and outdoor pole vault, Buyck was 3rd in the pole vault and 8th in the 100 meter dash at the NCC outdoor meet. During the indoor season, she was 8th in the 60 meter dash and 5th in the pole vault.
Backsen, is a senior biology major from Fargo, N.D. He maintains a 3.67 GPA. He was the Vikings' No. 1 runner in cross country last fall. He finished 3rd at the NCC meet.
Johnson is a senior from Marshall, Minn. He is a biology major with a 3.87 GPA. As the No. 2 runner on the cross country team, Johnson finished 16th at the conference meet. In track and field, he was 9th in the steeplechase at the outdoor meet after finishing 7th in the 5,000 meters at the indoor meet.
