HAVERFORD, Pa. - Three Haverford College Men's Cross-Country runners were named to the 2023 PhillySIDA Academic All-Area team, while Peter LaRochelle was named PhillySIDA Academic All-Area performer of the year, the Philadelphia Sports Information Directors Association (Philly-SIDA) announced in a release Wednesday morning. The other two runners garnering accolades were Seamus Fraser and Matthew Denton.
In order to be nominated, student-athletes need to have at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and have completed at least one full year of classes at their current institution. The Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area team represents that sport's top student-athletes as selected by the sports information directors of those schools. Both academic and athletic success is taken into consideration in the voting.
The PhillySida Acadmeic All-Area Performer of the year award is just another big accomplishment to add to Larochelle's decorated 2023 season. The junior became Haverford Men's Cross Country's 40th All American (deemed by USTFCCCA) after securing 35th place at the recent NCAA Championships in Newville, Pa., with a finishing time of 25:04.8. Hailing from Great Barrington, Mass., Larochelle secured the Centennial Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year award just a few weeks ago. Further accomplishmnts notched by Larochelle this season include being selected First-team All-Centennial Conference, being named to the All-Metro Region team, making the Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll, and being tabbed a two-time Centennial Conference Cross Country Athlete of the Week.
Fraser had a breakout season in 2023, as the junior recorded new personal bests in the 3-mile race (finishing with a time of 15:28 at the Alumni Open Race on September, 9), and 8k race (finishing with a time of 25:31.2 at the NCAA DIII Metro Region Cross Country Championships on November, 11). The Port Townsend, Wash. native picked up his first USTFCCCA All-Region recognition after finishing 17th at the Metro Region Championship. A 2023 NCAA Qualifier, Fraser was named First-team All-Centennial Conference following a seventh place finish at the Centennial Conference Championships. A two-time Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll member, Fraser was chosen as a PhillySIDA Academic All-Area member for the first time in his career.
A three-time Centennial Conference Fall Academic Honor Roll member, Denton reached new heights in the 2023 season. The senior recorded new personals bests in the 3-mile (finishing with a time of 15:28 at the Alumni Open Race on September, 9) and the 8k race (finishing with a time of 25:40.7 at the NCAA DIII Metro Region Cross Country Championships on November, 11). Folloiwng the new personal best at the NCAA DIII Metro Rgion Cross Country Championship, the Cinnaminson, N.J. product was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region list, the first time in the runner's career. Reaching the NCAA Championships for the first time, Denton capped of his season crossing the finish line third for the Fords in 169th place with a time 26:09.6. The PhillySIDA Academic All-Area selection, was the first of Denton's career.