Denison's Michael Barnes and Katie Navarre were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first-team's for men's and women's track and field as selected by The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  As first-team all-district selections, Barnes and Navarre will move on to the national ballot for a chance to become Academic All-Americans.

This is the third Academic All-District award for Barnes who was named to Academic All-America second-team in 2008.  A two-time North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Sprinter of the Year, Barnes captured five NCAC Championships in his four-year career at Denison to go along with 14 all-conference performances.  This past fall he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team for football after rushing for 551 yards and passing for 1,152 yards to go along with 16 total touchdowns.

Barnes was one of five Denison Presidential Medal recipients and he is also the outgoing President of the Denison Student Athlete Advisory Council.  He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Phi Society and carried a 3.87 grade point average as an economics major.

Navarre, a sophomore from Upper Arlington, Ohio, is making an appearance on the Academic All-District first-team in her first year of eligibility after enjoying one of the best seasons in the history of women's track/cross country at Denison.  In the fall, Navarre became a second-team All-American after placing ninth at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship.  It was the best individual finish for a Denison runner at the NCAA's cross country championships.

More firsts would follow for Navarre in the spring as the qualified for the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters.  After qualifying and winning the 10K at the mostly Division I, Raleigh Relays, hosted by N.C. State and setting a new school record with a time of 35:16 she went on to the NCAA Championship meet and logged two All-American performances.

In the 10,000 meters, Navarre placed sixth overall after entering the race with the nation's second-fastest time.  She jumped out to an early lead and remained in first place until Williams' Lauren Philbrook and four others caught her late in the race.  Navarre would return the following day in the 5K with a fifth place finish and a time of 17:23.56.  It was the best finish ever by a Denison female runner at the NCAA Outdoor Championship.  It also ran her All-American total for the year to three.

Navarre is a political science and Spanish major who holds a 3.94 grade point average.  She is also a member of Amnesty International.