Kent Wories, Andy Baker Named Academic All-America

Butler track and cross country athletes Kent Wories and Andy Baker have been named to the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team, chosen by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).  The two distance runners were named to the second team of the University Division Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country academic honor squad.

Wories earned Academic All-America recognition for the second consecutive year, becoming Butler’s first two-time, track/cross country Academic All-American.  He was a third team Academic All-American a year ago.  He’s a two-time All-Horizon League performer in cross country and a two-time Horizon League Academic All-League pick.  He placed ninth at the 2009 Horizon League Cross Country Championship, helping Butler to its 11th consecutive league cross country title.

A senior finance major with a 3.94 grade point average, Wories completed his final track season with a fourth place finish in the 10,000 meter run and a fifth place finish in the 5,000 meter run at the 2009 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championship.  He also placed fourth in the 5,000 meter run at the 209 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Baker, a graduate student in business with a 3.87 grade point average, is a two-time cross country All-American.  He was named the Horizon League Cross Country Male Athlete of the Year in both 2007 and 2008, and he was named the 2008 Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year.  He’s captured two Horizon League cross country individual championships, and he was named the Outstanding Running Performer at the 2008 Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championship after winning both the 3,000 and 5,000 meter championships.  The distance standout from Minehead, U.K., holds Butler’s indoor 5,000 meter record. 

The two track and cross country honorees join men’s basketball player Matt Howard as Butler’s 2008-09 Academic All-Americans.  Butler has had 31 student-athletes earn Academic All-America recognition since 1981, including five in the past two years (with Wories capturing the honor twice).