Feb. 22, 2007

Fighting Illini distance runner Jason Bill received All-Academic honors from the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) today. The men's track team also was honored being named a Division I All-Academic Cross Country team by the USTFCCCA after accumulating a team GPA of 3.157 during the 2006 season.

Bill, a senior majoring in biology, is one of 50 runners in the country to receive the academic honor. To be eligible for the award, runners were required to have a minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA.

The Illini were one of 86 teams in the nation to receive All-Academic honors. To receive the honor, teams must compete in an NCAA regional meet and have at least a cumulative team GPA of 3.0.

Bill and the rest of the Illini men's track squad will continue the indoor season when they travel to Bloomington, Ind., to compete in the Big Ten Championships. The meet will begin on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 10 a.m. and will continue on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 10 a.m.

Full results of the Big Ten Championships can be found at www.fightingillini.com following the conclusion of the meet.