DALLAS, Texas - The 2004 Cross Country Academic Big 12 teams were announced Wednesday. Representing Kansas State were four men, three of which were on the first team, and four women, all of whom made the first team. Transfers and freshmen were not considered for the academic Big 12 teams.

Under requirements of having a 3.20-4.00 GPA, Micha Gamper, Trevor Smith, and Erik Sproll made the first team. Gamper, a junior, is majoring in architecture. This is his first appearance on the academic Big 12 team. His top finish this year was a 17th-place performance at the Wildcat Invitational, running a time of 26:25.40. Smith, a senior majoring in agricultural economics, was on the second team academic Big 12 team in 2003. He recorded his top finish of 23rd-place at the Wildcat Invitational, crossing the line at 26:42.50.  Sproll is a senior majoring in kinesiology. It is also his first time making the academic team. Sproll placed 25th at the Bob Timmons Invitational, notching a time of 27:52.90.

Making the requirements of a 3.00-3.19 GPA for the second team on the men's side was Joe Moore. Moore, a junior, is a social science major. Having made the academic team for the first time, he is also having a breakthrough performance athletically, as well. His top finish was fifth place at the Bob Timmons Invitational, clocking a time of 26:35.57.

All four women nominated for the academic Big 12 team made the first team by having a GPA between 3.20-4.00. Those student-athletes were Shauna Burrell, Trisha Culbertson, Cate Holston, and Megan McGreevy. Burrell, a senior in student counseling, made a fourth consecutive showing on the academic Big 12 team. She was on the first team in 2001 and 2002, with her lone second team award in 2003. She has a top finish of 13th, which she recorded at the Wildcat Invitational with a time of 23:31.40.

Culbertson, a senior, is majoring in biological and agricultural engineering. It is her third appearance on the academic Big 12 team. She returns to the first team after appearing in 2002. Last year, she was on the second team. Culbertson has been the top K-State runner all season, placing as the top Wildcat in all four meets. Her top finish was 2nd at the Bob Timmons Invitational when she ran a 18:09.40.

Cate Holston is a senior in biology. She is also making her third appearance on the academic team, after being on the first team in 2002 and the second team in 2003. Her top finish was a 18th place finish at the Wildcat Invitational, recording a time of 23:31.40.

McGreevy, a senior, is majoring in nutrition science. It is her first appearance on any academic Big 12 list.

K-State will host the 2004 Big 12 Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Oct. 30, in Topeka, Kan. The women's 6,000-meter race will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by the men's 8,000-meter race at 11:00 a.m.