Six Huskers earn Academic All-Big 12 honors

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's cross country team is having a successful season both on the course and in the classroom. The Huskers placed six athletes on the Academic All-Big 12 First Team, including Melinda Oliver, a three-time winner.

To qualify for first-team honors, a student-athlete must own a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.2 and participate in 60 percent of the team's scheduled meets. Second-team honorees must carry a GPA of at least 3.0 and participate in 60 percent of the team's meets. Freshman and transfer student-athletes are not eligible their first year.

Oliver, a secondary education major, has achieved the minimum 3.2 GPA in each of the last three years. Joining Oliver on the first team for the second consecutive year are junior Amie Finkner, a biological science major, junior Deb Osteen, a management major, and senior Jaime Pauli, an accounting major. Sophomores Jenna Lucas, a biological science major, and Jeannette Zimmer, undecided on a major, both earned their first honors.

The Husker women's cross country team has consistently performed well in the classroom, placing six women on the 1998 Academic All-Big 12 First Team and earning a place on the 1998 Academic All-America.

Both the men's and women's cross country teams will compete at the Big 12 Championships on Saturday, Oct. 30, in College Station, Texas.