CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Yellow Jacket distance running standout Evan Thayer has been named to the 2012 Capital One Academic All-America NCAA Division II Track & Field/Cross Country First Team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Thayer, a 2012 CU graduate from Naperville, Ill., is one of 15 Division II athletes from across the country and the only one from Ohio to be listed on the first team.

Thayer is just the third Yellow Jacket men's track and cross country athlete to earn the honor and the first in 11 years. Eddie Nehus (1st Team) and Cliff Reynolds (3rd Team) were recognized in 2001.

Thayer was the 2011-12 CU Male Athlete of the Year by finishing his career as one of the school's more accomplished distance runners. He was the cross country squad's #1 runner in every meet in 2011 and was an NCCAA All-American after placing third in the national meet. He guided the team to a runner-up finish.

Thayer earned the prestigious NCCAA Wheeler Award in cross country. He also repeated as a scholar-athlete.

On the track, Thayer was the NCCAA Indoor Champion in the mile with a meet record time of 4:12.65. He achieved multiple All-America honors both indoors and outdoors, was an NAIA and NCCAA Scholar-Athlete, and also owns three school records.

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