June 4, 2003

Duquesne University sophomore cross country and outdoor track and field competitor Ryan Bender (Indiana, PA/Indiana) has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District Two First Team.

Bender, who has a 3.98 grade point average in pharmacy, was previously named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference teams in both cross country and outdoor track and field. In addition, he was named to the A-10 All-Conference team for his 10th place finish at the Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championship, his second All-Conference selection in as many years. He finished first for Duquesne in five of six cross country races this season while placing second in the other. The two-time Atlantic 10 Cross Country Performer of the Week also finished 31st of 254 runners at the NCAA Pre-Nationals and won the 96-runner Duquesne Invitational. During the outdoor track season, Bender placed fifth in the 5,000 meter run at the A-10 Championship, finishing with a season-best time.

Bender will now appear on the National Cross Country/Track & Field ballot. The national team is scheduled to be released June 19.

To be nominated for this award, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve player and carry at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA. District 2 encompasses schools from the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Duquesne University has had 22 student-athletes named to the various District II (2) teams this season placing at least one student-athlete on each of the 11 Verizon teams to date - men's & women's soccer, women's volleyball, football and men's & women's basketball, baseball, men's at-large, women's at-large, women's cross country/track & field and men's cross country/track & field. Duquesne's total is the most of any University in District II.