Nov. 1, 2007

Stony Brook, N.Y. - In a vote of the league's head coaches, head women's cross country coach Andy Ronan and his staff were named the America East Coaching Staff of the Year on Wednesday after taking home the Seawolves first ever women's conference title over the weekend. The league office also announced that six men's and women's Seawolves runners were named to the America East All-Academic team.

Ronan's Seawolves dethroned preseason favorite and three-time defending champion Boston University for the women's team title this year after Stony Brook finished third one year ago.

Stony Brook has received votes in the national poll this year and has been consistently ranked among the top four teams in the Northeast this season. This is the third-straight year Ronan has received this award.

Sophomore Alex Felce (Stroud, Gloucestershire, England), senior Shaun Krawitz (Auckland, New Zealand/Auckland University), sophomore Timothy Hodge (Wellington, New Zealand/Towa College), and senior Zachary Tyerman (Seattle, Washington/Washington University) were named to the All-Academic team on the men's side.

Sophomore Laura Huet (Carrickmines, Ireland/Institute of Edcuations) and Jessica Hampson (Smithtown, N.Y./Smithtown) were named to the squad on the women's side.

The All-Academic squads are a product of the June 2005 Athletics Director meetings. Faculty representatives and athletics directors from each of the conference's nine member institutions decided to honor some of the league's top athletes that are also quality students.

The All-Academic Team has been selected based on the student-athlete's academic and athletic accomplishments. Academic achievement for consideration requires student-athletes to have a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.00 entering the season. Athletically, student-athletes are required to be a top 10 finisher at the America East Cross Country Championship meet. Freshmen are not eligible for the all-academic teams and grade-point averages are taken from the semester prior to the competing athletic season.