Bishel, Gilbert Earn Academic All-MAC Honors

November 02, 2007 | Track & Field

By: Ball State Athletics

MUNCIE, Ind. -- Sophomore Ali Bishel (Chesterton, Ind./Chesterton H.S.) and junior Vanessa Gilbert (Kettering, Ohio/ Fairmont H.S.) have been named to the 2007 Women's Cross Country Academic All-MAC Team, as announced by the league office Nov. 2.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. A total of 15 student-athletes were named to the team.

Bishel finished second at the MAC Championships clocking in at 17:38. She has led the Cardinals in every meet this year. Bishel has recorded three top-5 finishes this season including a second place finish at the Indiana Intercollegiates (17:44). Bishel is a landscape architecture major and holds a 3.73 grade point average.

Gilbert is also majoring in landscape architecture and holds a GPA of 3.58. Gilbert placed 22nd at the MAC Championships finishing with a time of 18:30. Her best time of the season came at the Indiana Intercollegiates where she finished seventh clocking in at 18:15.