University of Illinois Springfield distance runner Cort Ross was named a Second Team Academic All-American, as announced by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) organization on Tuesday.

Academic All-Americans were selected from a national ballot from Academic All-District honorees. The All-America award, which was voted on by CSC members, was given to just 163 track & field/cross country athletes from NCAA & NAIA institutions. 

Ross was one of fourteen members of the Academic All-America® Division II men's track & field/cross country teams to boast a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Ross had the highest regional finish by a UIS cross country athlete in program history at the Midwest Regional during the cross country season. He also ranked top-50 in NCAA DII in two indoor track events and three outdoor track events. The exercise science major was the GLVC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year, as well as the GLVC Fall Scholar-Athlete of the Year in men's cross country. 

The Casey, Ill. native earned All-GLVC and USTFCCCA All-Region Accolades in all three seasons of competition in 2023-24 and was a USTFCCCA All-American in cross country. 

Academic All-American is a title reserved for college student-athletes who perform at an elite level in their chosen sport and in the classroom. College Sports Communicators members have honored more than 40,000 student-athletes since 1952 with the prestigious title of Academic All-American for outstanding academic and athletic achievement.