Bitok Named Academic All-District
5/29/2003 11:58:52 AM | Cross Country, Track and Field
BRONX, N.Y. - Syracuse junior John Bitok has been named to the 2003 Verizon Academic All-District I Track & Field/Cross Country First Team. Bitok is now eligible to earn Verizon Academic All-America honors.
Bitok competes in cross country and track & field at Syracuse. He finished eighth at the BIG EAST Cross Country Championship last fall and went to finish ninth at the NCAA regional meet. Bitok became first Orangeman since 1919 to win the IC4A Cross Country Championship Division, winning the event in 2002. He also won the IC4A Cross Country University Division in 2001.
During the indoor track & field season, Bitok finished fifth in the 5,000 meters at the BIG EAST championship meet and third at the IC4A Championship in the 3,000-meter run. He also owns the Orangemen's fastest 3,000-meter time during the outdoor campaign, finishing third at the Tom Tellez Invitational in Houston, Texas.
Bitok is a five-time member of the SU Athletic Director's Honor Roll and a two-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star. He has won the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award two times and was honored with the 2003 Hisako Fujitsuka Award for Outstanding International Service and Caring.
