SEATTLE (May 23) -- Kelsey Backen, an all-conference cross country runner and middle-distance performer in track for Seattle Pacific University, has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District 8 team for spring at-large sports.

Backen (Jr., Yakima, Wa./East Valley) is an exercise science major with a 3.73 grade point average. He finished his track season earlier this month by running the fourth-fastest 1500 in school history. He had finished fourth in that events at the Pacific West Conference Championships. Last fall, Backen was fifth in the conference cross country race.