June 3, 2005

Duquesne University distance runner Ryan Bender (Indiana, Pa./Indiana) and pole vaulter Sarah Fetterman (Elysburg, Pa./Southern Columbia) have been named to the Women's and Men's 2005 ESPN The Magazine District 2 Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-America teams announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). They are the 11th and 12th DU student-athletes to earn all-district honors this school year.

Fetterman and Bender, who are both pharmacy majors, will have their names placed on the national ballot with final voting for the national team to be announced June 21 for the men and June 23 for the women.

Bender, a four-time All-Conference cross country performer with a 3.87 GPA, finished fourth at 2004 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships. He also won a sliver medal in the 10,000 and placed fifth in the 5000 at the 2005 A-10 Outdoor Track Championship. He was the only runner to finish in top five in both events.

Fetterman, who has a 3.97 GPA, is the 2005 A-10 outdoor champion in the pole vault. Her vault of 11' 5.75" was seven inches higher than the second-place finisher. The ECAC and NCAA East Regional participant posted the second-best vault performance in the A-10 outdoor season this year and won silver in the vault at the 2005 A-10 indoor championship.

Fetterman and Bender were named Duquesne University Female and Male Student-Athletes of the Year last month.

To be eligible for the Academic All-America award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore at their institution, be a starter or important reserve and have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). The district teams are voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).