AMHERST, N.Y. — Eight runners from the Daemen University men's and women's cross country teams have earned All-Academic Honors, and both teams have garnered All-Academic honors for the 2025 cross country season from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), as announced on Thursday afternoon.
To qualify for All-Academic distinction, individual student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-30 percent of their respective regional championship meet, and teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and compile a team score at their respective regional championship meet, among other qualifiers.
On the men's side, Simon Evans (Galway, N.Y.), CJ Johnson (Baltimore, Md.), and Ethan Keating (Wooster, Ohio) were recognized. Lia Brasacchio (Victor, N.Y.), Christa Oates (Tonawanda, N.Y.), Patsy Oberholzer (Greece, N.Y.), Kylie Piekarski (Lancaster, N.Y.), and Madeline Straub (Olean, N.Y.) were the women's honorees.
Evans, a physical therapy major, raced in three meets during his freshman season. He placed 28th at the Highlander Invitation with a season-best 8k time of 26:07.9. He then finished seventh at the ECC Championships, finishing the 8k in 27:34.4. Evans then came in 34th at the NCAA Division II East Regionals, posting a 10k time of 33:47.1
Johnson, a biochemistry major, had a standout season, becoming the Wildcats' first male cross country athlete to win the ECC Championship and to compete in the NCAA Division II National Championships. He came across as Daemen's top finisher in the first three meets of the season, highlighted by a fifth-place finish at the season-opening Doug Watts Open with a PR 6k time of 19:26.7. The junior also placed 12th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, recording a career-best 8k time of 25:21.1. At the ECC Championship meet, he placed first in the 8k race with a time of 26:24.8, nearly 15 seconds ahead of the runner-up. Johnson was named to the All-ECC First Team and was named the ECC Most Outstanding Runner. At the NCAA regionals, he took seventh with a 10k time of 32:18.8, qualifying for the NCAA National Championship meet, where he posted a time of 32:53.4
Keating, a physical therapy major, put in a solid showing for Daemen. He took ninth at the Doug Watts Open with a PR 6k time of 19:53.5. He also posted a personal-best 8k time of 25:56.2 at the Highlander Invitational, good for 22nd. At the ECC Championship, he logged a fourth-place result, crossing the finish line in 27:03.3. Keating then placed 16th at the regional championships with a 10k PR of 32:56.3.
The Wildcat men finished sixth at the NCAA Regionals.
Brassachio, a physical therapy major, logged two PRs during her sophomore campaign. She posted a 5k best time of 19:40.2 at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, placing 34th. Brassachio logged a 6k best time of 23:47.8 at the Highlander Invitational, also finishing 34th. She placed 17th at the ECC Championships with a 5k time of 20:18.0, then took 30th at the NCAA Regionals, finishing the 6k in 23:55.4.
Oates, a business administration major, ran in all six of Daemen's meets this past fall. She took 21st at the Highlander Invitational, finishing the 6k in 23:03.9. Oates put on a strong performance at the ECC Championship meet, coming 13th during the 5k race with a time of 19:57.2. She then placed 19th at the NCAA Regionals with a 6k time of 23:04.6.
Oberholzer, a physical therapy major, was one of the Wildcats' top performers this season. She posted a PR 5k time of 18:58.0 and placed 14th at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational. Additionally, the senior took 12th at the Highlander Invite with a 6k PR of 23:34.2. Oberholzer posted a 6th-place result at the ECC Championships 5k, crossing the finish line in 19:25.2. She then finished 13th at the NCAA Regionals with a 6k time of 22:48.8.
Piekarski, a Pre-Veterinary Science major, raced in all six of the Wildcats' meets this fall. The sophomore placed 53rd at the Doug Watts Open with a 5k time of 20:50.7. She posted a 6k PR of 24:13.2 at the Highlander Invitational, finishing 53rd. At the ECC Championships, Piekarski placed 24th, finishing the 5k in 20:45.1. She took 42nd at the NCAA Regionals with a 6k time of 24:34.3.
Straub, a marketing major, posted two personal bests in the five meets she competed in. The senior logged a 5k PR of 20:38.4 at the Harry F. Anderson Invitational, coming in 80th. She finished 28th at the ECC Championships, finishing the 5k in 21:04.5. Straub then logged a PR and finished 50th at the NCAA Regionals with a 6k time of 24:55.7.
Daemen's women's team finished fourth at the NCAA Regionals.
Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
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