PORTLAND, Ore. – Eight runners from the Montana State University Billings cross country team were named academic all-Great Northwest Athletic Conference for the 2022 fall season, announced by the conference office on Wednesday.
 
Three runners on the men's side and five on the women's side represented the Yellowjackets on the honor list, which is reserved for student-athletes in at least their second season with their team and who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20. "It's good to see that most of our team that is eligible to academic all-GNAC meets the requirements," said MSUB head coach Jonathan Woehl. "They excel not only in competing but also in the classroom. It seems like we have been increasing our numbers each year too. They've set high standards for themselves and I'm happy to see they're being recognized for their hard work."
 
Seniors Ase Ackerman and Logan Straus were each third-time selections to the list, headlining the men's side for MSUB. Both runners are health and human performance majors, with Straus holding a 3.46 GPA and Ackerman posting a 3.44 GPA. Sophomore Jackson Bailey was MSUB's other male runner on the list, as he earned the honor for the second straight season holding a 3.48 GPA while studying accounting.
 
Senior Kailee Stoppel was a third-year selection on the women's side for the 'Jackets, as she works towards completing her degree in history with a 3.56 GPA. Senior Ally Whitmer and sophomore Aspen Tolman were repeat selections, with Tolman holding a 3.83 GPA and Whitmer holding a 3.61 while both studying health and human performance.
 
The Yellowjacket women also had a pair of first-time selections, in junior Maisie Hoskins and sophomore Kit Wiersema. Hoskins is also an HHP major with a 3.26 GPA, while Wiersema is pursuing pre-professional dental hygiene with a 3.96 GPA.
 
The MSUB cross country teams are next in action on Saturday at the NCAA D2 pre-nationals in University Place, Wash. The meet will serve as a preview for the Division II Championships, which are set for Dec. 2 at the same course.