Clayton State places two on USTFCCCA All-Academic for men’s cross country

NEW ORLEANS, La. – February 9, 2012 – The USTFCCCA (United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association) released its Division II Cross Country All-Academic selections for men's cross country. In turn, the Clayton State Lakers had two amongst the 208 athletes honored.

Selected Division II All-Academic from Clayton State was Albert Mong'ony and Russell Lawless. This is the first time that both Mong'ony and Lawless have earned this honor by the USTFCCCA.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team in Division II, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or greater through the most-recent semester, completed at least 12 credit hours in the semester of cross country competition, and placed in the top 50 percent at the most recent NCAA National Championships or in the top 30 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships.

Both runners helped pace Clayton State to a third-place finish at the Peach Belt Conference Championships, and a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals.

Mong'ony, a senior from Nairobi, Kenya, earned All-Peach Belt Conference honors for a second straight season after finishing third last in the Peach Belt Conference Championships. He also earned Division II All-Southeast Region honors for a second straight season with a 21^st overall finish at the NCAA Division II Southeast Regionals. During the regular season, Mong'ony recorded three Top Five finishes in the Lakers' four meets, including two third-place finishes.

In addition to his USTFCCCA honor, Mong'ony also earned Peach Belt All-Academic for a second straight season. He is majoring in nursing with a 3.55 GPA.

Lawless, a sophomore from Richmond Hill, Ga., was selected Peach Belt All-Academic as well. He recorded a pair of Top 30 finishes this season, including 25th at last weekend's Peach Belt Conference Championship. He currently has a 3.79 GPA.