FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks cross country teams had 14 student-athletes named to the 2026 GNAC Cross Country Academic All-Conference Team, presented by Barnes and Noble College.
The men's team had eight student-athletes named to the team, while the women's team had six.
To qualify for academic all-conference, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20, must be in at least their second season competing for their team, and must have competed on the course during the 2026 campaign. On the men's side, the Nanooks had four second-time honorees and four first-time recipients.
Curtis Beck,
Blake Hanley,
Paxson Ott, and
Ruben Rhodes all earned their second selection to the GNAC XC Academic All-Conference Team. Beck is a junior who hails from Fairbanks and has maintained a 3.23 while studying mechanical engineering. Hanley, a junior from Anchorage, holds a 3.97 while studying homeland security and emergency management. Ott is a junior studying biological sciences, and the Fairbanks native holds a 3.96 through two-plus years at UAF. Finally, Rhodes is the final two-timer for the men's team, being named with a 3.95 while studying chemistry. Rhodes also hails from Anchorage.
Ian Baker,
Dexter Delaney,
Jace Peters, and
Ned Peters all earned their first Academic All-Conference nod. Baker, a sophomore from Corvallis, Ore., has maintained a 3.48 while studying chemistry. Delaney is a sophomore from Winthrop, Wash. and holds a 3.78 while studying chemistry as well. Both
Jace Peters and
Ned Peters are studying mechanical engineering.
Jace Peters is a junior from Leadville, Colo. and has a 3.91.
Ned Peters is a sophomore from Bethel and has maintained a 3.63.
On the women's side, the Nanooks were led by
Tabitha Williams, who was named for the third time in her career.
Riga Grubis and
Madison Schuh earned their second honor while
Rory Claussen,
Olivia Manley, and
Devyn Townsend were first-time recipients.
Williams is one of nine three-time recipients on the GNAC women's list. She hails from Canmore, Alta. The senior has maintained a 3.58 while studying digital journalism.
Riga Grubis earned her second academic honor, and the junior from Fairbanks, holds a 3.65 while studying biological sciences.
Madison Schuh is the second two-time honoree for the 'Nooks, and the Anchorage native has a 3.79 while studying wildlife biology and conservation. Claussen, a sophomore from Albuquerque, N.M., earned her first academic nod with a 3.90 while studying fisheries and marine science. Manley, a junior from Fairbanks, also earned her first honor with a 3.88 while studying psychology. The final Nanooks women's runner to be named was sophomore
Devyn Townsend. The Redondo Beach, Calif. native held a 3.54 while studying wildlife biology and conservation.
A total of 134 cross country student-athletes were named to the 2026 GNAC Cross Country Academic All-Conference Team, presented by Barnes and Noble College. 68 were named from the men's teams, and 66 were from the women's teams.
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