ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University standout runner Whitney Bishoff has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District III first team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Thursday morning.

Selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America, the teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom.

Bishoff, a native of Winder, Ga., posted several stellar outings in both cross country and track and field over the past academic year, including earning the prestigious NCAA Elite 88 Award at the 2011 Indoor Track & Field Championships in March. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 88 championships.

She set a new school record in the 10,000 meter and the mile run this season and her cross country accomplishments included South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Year as well as first team all-conference following her first-place finish at the SAC Championships last November. Bishoff earned SAC Cross Country Runner of the Week accolades twice last season and paced the Trojan cross country squad on 14 consecutive occasions over the past two-plus seasons, posting 11 of the top 15 times in school history in the 5k.

She earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first-team accolades in 2009 and has been named to the Dean's List every semester.

Bishoff was joined on the team by fellow South Atlantic Conference runners Katie Griewisch from Lenoir-Rhyne and Lindsay Lippencott of Wingate.

In order to earn recognition, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his/her current institution and are voted upon by CoSIDA members. They must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at their respective institution.

As first-team all-district selection, Bishoff is eligible for consideration nationally as an academic All-American. District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

College Division
FIRST TEAM
ALL EVENTS Whitney Bishoff ANDERSON UNIVERSITY (SC) III Jr. Winder, Ga. 4.0 Education
ALL EVENTS Christina Rhodes BRIDGEWATER COLLEGE III Sr. Dayton, Va. 4.00 Liberal Studies
ALL EVENTS Kate Griewisch LENOIR-RHYNE UNIVERSITY III Jr. Banner Elk, N.C. 3.88 Pre-Medical Science
ALL EVENTS Kristyn Zeiler METHODIST UNIVERSITY III Sr. Lutherville, Md. 4.00 Biology
ALL EVENTS Kelly Fauth VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE III Jr. Monrovia, Md. 3.89 Sociology/Religious Studies
ALL EVENTS Lindsay Lippencott WINGATE UNIVERSITY III So. Forest Hill, Md. 4.00 Biology
ALL EVENTS Lauren Schultz WASHINGTON & LEE UNIVERSITY III So. Hopkinton, Mass. 3.94 Geology
ALL EVENTS Ashley Allen LYNCHBURG COLLEGE III Sr. Richmond, VA 3.96 Athletic training
ALL EVENTS Tess Gallegos EMORY UNIVERSITY III Jr. Kennesaw, Ga. 3.80 Anthropology & Psychology
ALL EVENTS Laura McKnight FLAGLER COLLEGE III Jr. Jupiter, Fla. 3.96 History/Pre-Law