LOWELL, MA (June 6, 2008) – UMass Lowell junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA), a two-time All-American this season, was named to the ESPN The Magazine Track and Field/Cross Country All-District 1 Academic Second Team, released Thursday.

Sanca was one of two Division II athletes named to the College Division teams, made up of NCAA Division II, III and NAIA schools. A business management major, Sanca has maintained a 3.43 cumulative grade point average.

The honor is the latest of many this year for UML’s standout distance/middle distance runner, both of the academic and athletic sort. On May 13, he was named the recipient of UML’s David J. Boutin Award for Male Student-Athlete of the Year, which is presented to the outstanding student-athlete who exemplifies excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and community service.

Sanca was recently named to the Northeast-10 Conference Track and Field All-Academic First Team, released May 21, for the second straight year.

Sanca earned All-American honors twice this year, finishing 22nd at the NCAA Cross Country Championship (31.13.70, 10K) and eighth in the distance medley relay (10:07.65) at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship.

One of the top distance runners in country, Sanca finished fourth in a field among nearly 300 Division I, II and III runners at the New England Cross Country Championship (24:59, 8K) in October. Additionally, he was named to both the Northeast-10 Conference Cross Country First Team as well as the NCAA All-Northeast Region Team for the third successive year.

Along with his efforts in the indoor DMR, Sanca also earned All-New England honors in the indoor mile, placing seventh in 4:11.14. He highlighted the outdoor season by earning All-New England honors in the 5,000 meters (14:51.13) and winning the NE-10 Championship in the 5,000 in 14:54.98.

A graduate and former standout at John D. O’Bryant H.S., Sanca is the son of Nerino and Maria Sanca of Boston, MA.