Cambridge, Mass. — Senior Eric Speakman and junior Christina Melian of the Stony Brook men’s and women’s cross country teams were unanimously voted to the America East All-Academic Team, conference officials announced Wednesday.

They represent two of the three unanimous picks, with Vermont’s Alicia Clark being the third. 

Speakman makes his third appearance on the squad after winning his second individual conference crown in three years at the 2014 America East Championship Nov. 1. The business management and economics double major holds a 3.89 grade-point average (GPA) and is a member of the PACK planning committee. He received the Elite 18 Award at the conference championship for his athletic and academic achievements and is an eight-time Dean’s List honoree. 

Melian holds a 3.91 GPA in health science. She is minoring in biology and is pursuing a pre-medical track. Melian was second at the America East Championship, helping the Seawolves claim the runner-up trophy and their 13th consecutive top-three finish. Melian has made Dean’s List in all four of her semesters and volunteers her time with The Supply, Stony Brook Shine and the Stony Brook University Hospital. 

For the seventh consecutive year, America East will select the All-Academic teams using CoSIDA’s Academic All-America program as a model. Student-athletes worthy of consideration are nominated by member sports information directors and voted on by a committee of SIDs, academic advisors and faculty representatives from all nine-member institutions.

All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time or are typically made up of 10 student-athletes for individual sports, with the exception being in the event of ties. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration.