Clayton State places three on Peach Belt M/W
cross country All-Academic Team
Berkhedle, Nguyen, Ellis earn postseason honor for Lakers

MORROW, Ga. – December 12, 2008 – For the first time in its history, the Peach Belt Conference is presenting All-Academic teams for each respected sport starting this season. On Thursday, the conference released its first ever All-Academic team for men’s and women’s cross country, and Clayton State had three runners selected.

Selected for Clayton State was Walid Berkhedle and Au Nguyen for the men’s team and Chelsea Ellis was selected second team All-Academic for the women.

Berkhedle, a sophomore from Scarborough, Ont., was selected first team All-Peach Belt Conference for a second straight season after winning Peach Belt Conference Runner of the Year honors last season. He recorded three Top 10 finishes this season, and two more Top 20 finishes in the process.

He placed ninth at the Peach Belt Conference championships and 14th at the NCAA Division II Southeast Region championships.

A senior from Mesa, Ariz., Nguyen was steady and consistent this season for the Laker men. He recorded two Top 10 finishes and four Top 20 finishes, finishing in the Top 15 three times. Nguyen finished 15th at the Peach Belt Conference championships.

Ellis, a sophomore from Port St. Lucie, Fla., enjoyed a solid season as the Laker women’s No. 2 runner behind Peach Belt Conference champion Allison Kreutzer. She garnered three Top 10 finishes and three more Top 20 finishes on the season, finishing 19th at the Peach Belt Conference championships.