Patrick Jenkins Named Third-Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America

 Bowling Green, Ky.  — Western Kentucky University's Patrick Jenkins has been named to the 2008-09 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Track and Field and Cross Country third-team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Jenkins, a junior from Somerset, Ky., has maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average on the Hill, as a double major in biology and chemistry.  At the 2008 Sun Belt Conference cross country championships, Jenkins earned all-league honors with a sixth-place finish, while also scoring sixth at the 2009 SBC outdoor championships in the 10,000 meters.

"We are extremely happy for Patrick and his family," says WKU head track and field/cross country coach Erik Jenkins.  "This prestigious honor truly magnifies Patrick's academic accomplishments and the focus it takes to be a successful student-athlete.  He has been a major contributor to the success we have had and is well deserving of the
honor.  I am happy that he is a part of our program and look forward to
his continued success."

This makes the fifth-straight year a WKU cross country/track & field athlete has been named to the CoSIDA all-America team, with Cara Nichols and Cheyenne Carmack being honored in 2005, followed by Kevin Dick in 2006 and Michael Duncan in 2007 and 2008.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on the scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.