Mitchell, Behney Earn Academic All-America Recognition

June 16, 2005

Butler track and cross country runners Victoria Mitchell and Monica Behney have been named to the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team selected by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). Mitchell earned second team recognition on the University Division Women's Cross Country/Track & Field honor squad, while Behney was picked to the third team.

Mitchell, a graduate student majoring in education, completed a banner track and cross country year by winning the 2005 NCAA Division I Women's 3,000 meter steeplechase championship at the national track and field meet in California in early June. She won Horizon League individual titles in cross country and in the 1500 meter run in track, and she was recognized as a 4.00 Scholar-Athlete on the Butler Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Behney, a junior majoring in English, earned All-Horizon League recognition as a cross country runner. She placed third at the 2004 Horizon League Cross Country Championship, while helping Butler to the women's team title. She was the 10,000 meter champion at the 2004 Horizon League Track and Field Championship, setting a league record with a time of 35:45.59. She earned recognition as a 4.00 Scholar-Athlete on the Butler Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

The two distance standouts are the first Butler track/cross country athletes to earn Academic All-America recognition since 2000, when Meghann Berrier became Butler's first track/cross country Academic All-American.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team is chosen by a vote of members of CoSIDA. To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale.