Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Darnell, Maier named to MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
10/31/2017 | 11:46:00 | Cross Country
ST LOUIS – A pair of Saluki cross country runners were recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference as part of its 2017 MVC Scholar-Athlete Team, the league announced Tuesday.
Claire Darnell and Josh Maier earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors by placing in the top-20 at the conference championships while maintaining at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average as a sophomore in both athletic and academic standing.
Darnell, a junior from Festus, Mo., is an exercise science major who owns a 3.62 cumulative GPA. She was SIU's top-runner at the conference meet with a 19th place finish.
It marked the first MVC Scholar-Athlete team selection of Darnell's career, and she is the first Saluki woman to earn a spot on the team since her sister, Sadie Darnell, was one of four Salukis to earn a spot in 2014.
Maier, a redshirt junior majoring in computer science, owns a 3.95 GPA and captured all-MVC First Team with a fourth-place finish in the men's 8K race. Maier earned the conference's Elite 17 award, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC's 17 team championships.
It is the second-straight MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honor for Maier, who last season became the first Saluki in nearly three years to earn a spot on the squad. His Elite 17 award was the third of his career.
Both men's and women's teams are back in action on Nov. 10, as they travel to Ames, Iowa, for NCAA Midwest Regional.
Claire Darnell and Josh Maier earned MVC Scholar-Athlete honors by placing in the top-20 at the conference championships while maintaining at least a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average as a sophomore in both athletic and academic standing.
Darnell, a junior from Festus, Mo., is an exercise science major who owns a 3.62 cumulative GPA. She was SIU's top-runner at the conference meet with a 19th place finish.
It marked the first MVC Scholar-Athlete team selection of Darnell's career, and she is the first Saluki woman to earn a spot on the team since her sister, Sadie Darnell, was one of four Salukis to earn a spot in 2014.
Maier, a redshirt junior majoring in computer science, owns a 3.95 GPA and captured all-MVC First Team with a fourth-place finish in the men's 8K race. Maier earned the conference's Elite 17 award, given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average competing at the finals site at each of the MVC's 17 team championships.
It is the second-straight MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honor for Maier, who last season became the first Saluki in nearly three years to earn a spot on the squad. His Elite 17 award was the third of his career.
Both men's and women's teams are back in action on Nov. 10, as they travel to Ames, Iowa, for NCAA Midwest Regional.
Players Mentioned
/ Cross Country
/ Cross Country
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