DALLAS, Texas The Big 12 Conference has named six Kansas State cross country athletes to the 2005 Cross Country Academic All-Big 12 teams. Five out of the six student-athletes are first-time nominees.

Among the nominees, sophomore Eleanor Burton, a Riley County High School graduate, was one of only six Big 12 student-athletes to be nominated with a 4.0 grade point average (GPA). Burton is currently majoring in kinesiology. Joining Burton on the women’s first team is Morgan Bonds, a sophomore in biology.

First team selections for the men were Hiral Bhakta, a junior from Lawrence, and senior Christian Smith, a native of Garfield, Kan. This is Smith’s second Academic All-Big 12 honor after being named to the first team his sophomore year.

Christina Lara, a senior from Cathedral City, Calif., and Stephanie Lavin, a sophomore from Blue Springs, Mo., were named to the women’s second team. Lara is currently majoring in social science while Lavin is majoring in pre-dentistry.

To qualify, student-athletes must have a 3.00 GPA or higher either cumulative or the two previous semesters and must have participated in 60 percent of his or her team’s scheduled contests. Senior student-athletes who pave participated for a minimum of two years and meet all the criteria except percent of participation are eligible.

The next action for Kansas State will be the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, on Friday, Oct. 28, beginning at 10 a.m.

First Team Selections

Eleanor Burton*          So.                   Manhattan, Kan.

Morgan Bonds            So.                   Hutchinson, Kan.

Hiral Bhakta               Jr.                     Lawrence, Kan.

Christian Smith          Sr.                    Garfield, Kan.

Second Team Selections

Christina Lara             Sr.                    Cathedral City, Calif.

Stephanie Lavin          So.                    Blue Springs, Mo.

*denotes 4.0 GPA