Millersville, Pa. – Millersville University prides itself on its academics, and two student-athletes from the men's cross country team offered more proof that they are not only runners, but great students as well by landing on the USTFCCCA All-Academic team, released on Thursday.
 
While the women had five runners, James McBride and Michael Parker represented the men's team. To qualify, McBride and Parker maintained a GPA of 3.25 or better and were in the top 30 percent of runners at the NCAA Atlantic Regionals. A total of 101 schools across NCAA Division II were represented, with 208 athletes taking home honors.
 
In the same regard as the women, the PSAC had the most runners represented, with 27. That number was six more than the 21 runners that The Northeast 10 conference placed on the list. Again, the high level of runners from the PSAC is representative of the stiff competition the Marauders face throughout the season.
 
McBride, who majors in business administration, has his share of experience in accepting this award. It is the third such award of the junior's stellar career.
 
The Eastern York product took home the award in his 2008 freshman season with a fifth-place finish at the Atlantic Regional before missing the 2009 season with a hip injury. He grabbed the award again in a bounce-back 2010 season that saw him lead the team in all seven events before finishing 21^st in the Regional that year.
 
Last year, McBride's season was highlighted by a season opening win in the Marauder Alumni Open on Sept. 3, 2011. He followed that win with another triumph three weeks later on Sept. 24, 2011 at the Lock Haven Invitational. McBride's 19^th-place finish at this season's NCAA Atlantic Regionals on Nov. 5, 2011 was the second-best finish in the event of his career.
 
Michael Parker, the other winner, defines the term student-athlete. Bringing home his second All-Academic award, Parker was one of three seniors on the team in the fall. The biology major also won the award last year and has been able to maintain success in the classroom. After graduation, he has his choice of attending either Harvard or Yale, as he has been accepted to the doctoral program at both universities.
 
After a junior year that saw him place 60^th at the Atlantic Regional and take home his first All-Academic honors, Parker finished his career with a strong senior season. Parker's best finish came in the Marauder Alumni Open, when he finished seventh. He also placed 25^th in the Lock Haven Invitational before finishing his career with a 68^th-place finish in last fall's Regionals.