LANSING, MI – Senior Scott Sikorski of the University of Rochester men's cross country team captured All-America accolades with a 21st place finish at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday afternoon at the Forest Akers Golf Course on the campus of Michigan State University.
 
Overall, Sikorski traveled the snow covered 8-kilometer course in 25:25.5, averaging a pace of 5:07 per mile during the race. There were 294 entries into the meet.
 
The senior used a strong kick over the last 1,000 meters, passing 12 runners over his final split of 3:15.5, moving up his 33rd place position at the 7-kilometer mark.
 
Sikorski becomes just the 16th runner to garner All-America honors in men's cross country, earning the programs 23rd all-time award from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
 
He is the first cross country All-American since Jamie Vavra was named in 2011 for his 23rd place finish. Sikorski's 21st place result is Rochester's highest finisher at nationals since 1996 when Jeff Totten also crossed the finish in 21st for the Yellowjackets.
 
The NCAA appearance is the fifth straight for Sikorski in Yellowjacket colors, coming in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field.
 
He was an All-American in outdoor track and field last spring, placing 3rd in Division III in the 1500 meters. That followed a 10th place finish at indoor NCAA's last winter in the 800 meters.
 
During the 2021 cross country season, Sikorski placed 195th at the NCAA Championship, with his first NCAA appearance coming at the 2021 outdoor track and field nationals where he was 10th in the 1500 meters.
 
This season, Sikorski was UR's leading runner in every race, placing in the overall top-5 five times in seven races, earning top-45 placements in every event.