IRVING, Texas The Big 12 Conference named eight Wildcats to the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 Cross Country Team, the league office announced this week. Danny Schneider, Colin Swaney, Morgan Bonds, Emily Dittemore, Megan-Anne Perrin and Beverly Ramos were each named to the first team, while Tyler Fennema and Casey Johnson represent the Wildcats on the second team.

To qualify student-athletes must maintain a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his/her team’s scheduled contests. Freshmen and transfers are not eligible in their first year of academic residence. Senior student-athletes who have participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are also eligible.

It is the third-straight year that Bonds, a senior majoring in biology, has been recognized with first-team honors from the Big 12. The three-season letterman and native of Hutchinson, Kan., has competed in four races for the Wildcats this season. Last time out, at the Pre-NCAA Championships, Bonds recorded a 6,000-meter time of 22:44.5 good for her best time of the season.

Sophomore Ramos is one of only 10 runners in the Big 12 to achieve a perfect 4.00 GPA. In her first season running cross country for the Wildcats. Ramos has placed first in two of the four competitions so far this season. Her fasted 6,000-meter time of the season is 21:19.5 which came at the Pre-NCAA Championships on Oct. 13. Hailing from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, Ramos is undecided on a major but plans to be a pharmacist.

Perrin, a native of Fountain Hills, Ariz., has competed in four events this season and is highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the K-State/KU Dual on Sept. 7 with a 5,000-meter time of 19:37.2. Entering her sophomore year Perrin is declared as an English major.

Dittemore, an English major, is a first-time member of the all-academic team. The graduate of Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School in Wichita is coming off her best 6,000-meter competition of her career with a time of 22:19.8.

Schneider, a product of Lawrence, Kan., made the list for the second time in two years. The food science and industry major has competed in all five events this season. His best time of the season came at the Pre-NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., with an 8,000-meter time of 25:29.4.

Swaney makes the all-academic first team for the second-straight year also after competing in just one event for the Wildcats this season at the Pre-NCAA Championships. The junior from Iowa City, Iowa, is majoring in math and economics.

Both Fennema and Johnson represent the Wildcats on the all-academic second team. In his sophomore season Johnson, a native of DeSoto, Kan., has competed in four events this season with his best 8,000-meter time of 27:54.6 coming at the Pre-NCAA Championships. Fennema has competed in 11 straight events for the Wildcats, dating back to last season as a freshman. The native of Abiliene, Kan., appears on the all-academic list for the first time in his career.

The cross country teams travel to Lubbock, Texas, to compete in the 2007 Big 12 Cross Country Championships at Rawls Golf Course on Friday, Oct. 25. The men’s 8,000-meter race will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the women’s 6,000-meter competition at 11 a.m.