BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Navy senior Sam Keeny and Boston University sophomore Vera Sjöberg were selected as the 2023 Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athletes of the Year when the League office announced honors on Friday.
Keeny and Sjöberg were also selected to the seven- and eight-member Academic All-Patriot League men’s and women’s squads.
Four men’s and women’s cross-country student-athletes are multiple-time Academic All-Patriot League honorees. The group is led by American University’s Row Sullivan, the philosophy and political science major who carries a 3.94 cumulative GPA, and they become just the eighth-ever three-time Academic All-Patriot League winner in men’s cross country. Keeny, and Boston University graduate student Aksel Laudon (biomedical engineering/medical school, 4.00 GPA) were both repeat selections on the men’s academic team.
Lehigh University senior Christina Yakaboski (economics, 3.95 GPA) was the lone repeat honoree on the women’s academic team.
To be eligible for the Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and Academic All-Patriot League Team, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and be a starter or key player in their sport. Freshmen or students in their first academic year at their school are not eligible for the honor.
2023 Patriot League Men’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Sam Keeny, Navy, Sr., Annapolis, Md./South River
*Keeny earned First Team All-Patriot League honors for the third-consecutive season by finishing second at the Patriot League Championship with an 8K time of 24:46.3.
*The mechanical engineering major carries a cumulative GPA of 3.26.
*He earned Academic All-League honors for the second-consecutive year, while also making the Commandant’s List six times and appearing on the Superintendent’s List
2023 Patriot League Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Vera Sjöberg, Boston University, So., Stockholm, Sweden/Rubeck
*Sjöberg earned First Team All-Patriot League honors at the 2023 League championship by finishing second with a 6K time of 21:45.1.
*The Stockholm, Sweden native is an English major at Boston University with a 3.98 cumulative GPA.
Eleven Student-Athletes Make Cross Country Academic Squad for the First Time
Sjöberg highlights a list of 11 first-time Academic All-Patriot League Cross Country selections, including seven on the women’s team. Sjöberg is joined by American graduate student Rachael Potter (elementary education, 3.97 GPA), Army West Point senior Claire Lewis (4.22 GPA), Bucknell junior Keely Misutka (chemistry, 3.96 GPA), Colgate junior Kara Shepard (anthropology, 3.98 GPA), Lehigh junior Maddie Hayes (biology, 4.0 GPA), and Navy senior Ellie Abraham (history, 3.82 GPA).
Boston University graduate student Robert Hannon (computer science, 3.65 GPA), Colgate junior Owen Holland (mathematical economics, 3.87 GPA), Holy Cross junior William Schimitsch (computer science, 4.00 GPA), and Navy senior Joe Reimann (computer science, 3.99 GPA) all earned first-time honors for the men’s academic squad.
Four All-Patriot League Honorees Earn All-Academic Honors
In men’s cross country, Keeny appeared on the Academic All-Patriot League team, while also earning first-team All-Patriot League honors for his performance at the 2023 Patriot League Cross Country Championships. Hannon made the Academic All-Patriot League team, while collecting second-team All-Patriot League honors.
Sjöberg highlighted a trio of women’s cross country runners who earned both Academic All-Patriot League and first-team All-Patriot League honors for their performance throughout the season. Lewis and Abraham also earned recognition on both lists.
2023 Men’s Cross Country Academic All-Patriot League Team
Row Sullivan, American, Gr.
Robert Hannon, Boston University, Sr.
Aksel Laudon, Boston University, Gr.
Owen Holland, Colgate, Jr.
William Schimitsch, Holy Cross, Jr.
Sam Keeny, Navy, Sr.
Joe Reimann, Navy, Sr.
2023 Women’s Cross Country Academic All-Patriot League Team*
Rachael Potter, American, Gr.
Claire Lewis, Army West Point, Sr.
Vera Sjoberg, Boston University, So.
Keeley Misutka, Bucknell, Jr.
Kara Shepard, Colgate, Jr.
Maddie Hayes, Lehigh, Jr.
Christina Yakaboski, Lehigh, Sr.
Ellie Abraham, Navy, Sr.
*Additional student-athlete selected to the women’s team due to a tie in the voting
Patriot League Men’s and Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year
The Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each sport comprises the pool of nominees for the Patriot League Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor, given out over the summer. One male and one female are selected for this honor.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athlete can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.