Slippery Rock University men's and women's cross country teams and the women's swimming team recently received all-academic honors from national coaching organizations.

The cross country teams were both included on the U.S. Cross Country Coaches Association squad.

The men's team had a cumulative grade point average of 3.36 out of 4.0, while the women's team posted a 3.34. Freshman Jenna Gostkowski (Seneca Valley) earned individual all-academic cross country honors for her 3.41 GPA as a physical education major.

The Collegiate Swim Coaches Association of America honored the SRU women's swim team for its 3.21 cumulative GPA.

Kristen Jones recorded a pair of first-place finishes and a runner-up honor Saturday to headline The Rock's effort at the Clarion Early Bird Open outdoor track and field meet Saturday.Jones won the women's 100 (12.85 seconds) and high jump (17 feet, 9½ inches) and was second in the 200 (26.15).Other first-place women's finishers were Alison Gardner in the 400 (59.70), Katie Jones (pole vault, 10-6), Sonya Daugherty (triple jump, 36-8¾) and Heather Kozuchowsky (shot put, 44-4).The men's effort was led by a 1-2-3 finish in the pole vault by Tim Tray (15-6), Joe Labarbera (14-6) and Erik Dravenstott (14-0).Justin Gavazzi won the 1,500 (4:11.54) and Dave Pavone was the other men's champion in the javelin (174-11¾).Andrew Notaresschi (Butler) was a member of the men's 1,600-relay team that placed second (3:29.87) and Jill Rekich (Butler) was third in the women's 400 hurdles (1:11.17 and seventh in the 100 (13.98).At the Deamon Deacon Combined Events Classic at Wake Forest University Friday, Bill Jordan (Grove City High) finished in fourth place in the decathlon.Jordan's score of 6,778 shattered the NCAA national provisional qualifying mark of 6,350 and improved on his personal high mark of 220 points. His total is expected to be high enough to qualify him for the NCAA Championships.Paul Schwab was eight with a personal-best 6,039 points. On the women's side, Lauren Walters was fifth (4,019) while Alison McNamara was 12th (3,128) and Katrina Peters (Butler) was 13th (3,104).

The Grove City College baseball team salvaged its season-opening trip to Fort Myers, Fla., at the Gene Cusic Classic with a doubleheader sweep of Plymouth State (N.H.) to finish with a 2-5 record.Erik Arnesen fired a complete-game four-hitter in a 5-1 opening game win. He fanned 10 batters, walked none and didn't allow and earned run. Jerry Ott's two-run double highlighted the offensive output.In a 4-2 win in the nightcap, Chris Schwamberger had three hits, while Michael Busin and Joel Diller each went 2-for-3.