GAMBIER, Ohio -- On Wednesday, College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced that five Kenyon College student-athletes between the men's cross country and track and field teams were named to the 2023 Academic All-District Team, as selected by CSC members. The Owls' honorees include seniors Jack Burczak and Michael Deal, juniors Riley Orth and Collin Witt, and sophomore Tapiwa Gono Phiri.

To be eligible for the honor, a student-athlete had to be a key contributor who participated in at least 50 percent of the team's outings. The student-athlete had to be on the team's active roster for at least two years and, most importantly, had to own at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average. Each school was allotted five nominations between cross country and track and field.

Burczak, an English major, competed in both cross country and track and field this past year. The recent graduate set career-best times in five distance events, including two during the cross country season, the four-mile and 8k, and three during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons: the 1,500-meter, the 3,000, and the 5,000.

Deal, who recently graduated with a political science degree, also competed on both the cross country and track and field teams. Like Burczak, he also clocked five career-best times, with two coming in cross country (four-mile, 8k) and three taking place in track and field (one-mile, 5,000, and 10,000). 

Orth, a neuroscience major, had an outstanding outdoor track and field season after missing the indoor campaign due to injury. The junior defended his outdoor North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) crown in the shot put, earning All-NCAC honors in the event for the third time. Additionally, the throws specialist rewrote the Kenyon hammer throw record in three consecutive meets and four times overall this spring. Orth is also a two-time United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honoree after earning recognition in both the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2022. 

Witt, who majors in both philosophy and political science, was part of two record-setting relay teams during the indoor track and field season. The junior earned two All-NCAC honors as part of the 4x200 and 4x400 relay quartets, which both set program-best times this season. Witt also set personal-best marks in the 100, 200, and 400 over the outdoor campaign.

Gono Phiri, a chemistry major, won his second straight NCAC individual outdoor championship in the 100 and racked up four All-NCAC awards over the indoor and outdoor seasons. The sophomore joined Witt on the record-setting 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams in the indoor season, and he also earned his second straight All-NCAC honor in the 60, tying his own program record. The sprinter also set an outdoor program record in the 200. Additionally, Gono Phiri was a USTFCCCA All-Region honoree following the outdoor competition in 2022.

Inclusion on the Academic All-District Team advances the honorees to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Winners of the Academic All-America award will be announced Thursday, June 29.