Two Husker Harriers Named to All-Big 12 Team

Dallas - Nebraska runners James Bowler and Ann Gaffigan were both named to the All-Big 12 cross country team the league announced Wednesday. It marked the first time in four years that Nebraska had a runner recognized from both the men's and women's teams.

Bowler, who finished sixth at the Big 12 Championships in Norman, Okla., on Saturday, Oct. 27, became the fourth Husker to earn the honor in the five-year history of the conference. He joins two-time honoree Cleophas Boor, Jeroen Broekzitter and Jonah Kiptarus. Bowler, who hails from Alcester, Warwickshire, in England, covered the 8,000-meter Jimmie Austin course in 24:30.2, knocking nearly 20 seconds off his previous best.

Meanwhile Gaffigan, who finished seventh in the women's 6,000-meter race, joined Amy Wiseman and Michelle Brooks as the only Huskers to earn All-Big 12 honors. Gaffigan, a sophomore, crossed the line in a personal-best time of 21:10.5.

The top nine finishers at the conference championships were named to the All-Big 12 team.

In other news, Colorado coach Mark Wetmore was named the men's and women's Big 12 Coach of the Year, while Colorado's Dathan Ritzenhein and Oklahoma State's Siri Alfheim were named the Big 12 men's and women's newcomers of the year, respectively.