PORTLAND, Ore. – Five cross country runners for Montana State University Billings were named 2019 All-Academic in an announcement made by the Great Northwest Athletic Conference offices Friday afternoon. For the MSUB women, Nikki Aiken, Rachel Hiner, and Kailee Stoppel were recognized. For the men, it was Ase Ackerman and Logan Straus.
 
"I'm proud of all the hard work our student-athletes put in to their studies," said MSUB head coach Jon Woehl. "I'm glad they can be recognized for their efforts as well."
 
Aiken, a senior from Belgrade, Montana won the award for the second straight season and holds a 3.37 grade point average in Health and Human Performance – teaching option. Aiken has led the Yellowjackets on the course this season with one race win and four top-team finishes. Hiner (Harlowton, Montana) holds a 3.66 GPA in Special Education and Stoppel is majoring in History with a teaching option and holds a 3.46 GPA as a sophomore.
 
Straus (Billings, Montana) leads a pair of men's cross country selections and has a 3.48 GPA in Health and Human Performance. Ackerman (Glendive, Montana) is majoring in Health and Human Performance with a 3.40 sophomore GPA. Both Straus and Ackerman have been regular point contributors to the MSUB team this fall.
 
In total, 94 student-athletes were named to the 2019 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Cross Country All-Academic team. Of the honorees, 38 are men and 56 are women. The men's team includes 16 repeat selections and four three-time selections. For the women, 20 are repeat selections, 11 are three-time honorees and two are four-time selections.
 
To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, a student-athlete must be of sophomore eligibility of greater, be in his or her second season of competition at the nominating institution, be a letterwinner and have a cumulative 3.20 grade point average or higher.