Pepperdine University Track And Cross Country Runner, Former Clarion Area Standout Nathaniel Lerch Named To College Sports Communicators 2023 West Coast Conference Academic All-District Track Team

Above photo from Pepperdine University Athletics

Photo Courtesy of the Lerch’s: Nathaniel and his parents Tammy and Matt Lerch at the Oxidental Distance Carnival & Spring Break Classic 2023 in Los Angeles in March

Former Clarion Area Bobcats Track and Cross Country standout Nathaniel Lerch, Men’s Co-Captain on the Pepperdine University Track And Cross Country teams, was recently named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) 2023 West Coast Conference Academic All-District Track Team.

Lerch, a junior, is working toward his undergraduate degree in biology. He currently has a 3.661 Grade Point Average.

This season, Lerch competed this season in middle-distance events, setting both a season and personal-best time in the men’s 1,500 running a 4:09.20. He also ran the third fastest-time of the season for the Waves in the men’s 3,000 meters clocking in at 8:52.79.

Lerch is a two-time Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete, also receiving West Coast Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll “Gold” and “Silver” honors and earning WCC All-Academic honorable mention honors twice.

Pepperdine is an NCAA Division I program. The school is located in Malibu, California.

Lerch is joined by five other Waves on the WCC Academic All-District Track Team of the Pepperdine track teams earned College Sports Communicators 2023 Academic All-District Team honors.

For the Men, Johnathan Flint from Flower Mound, Texas; Ryan Hemphill from Visalia, California and William Watkins from Mill Valley, California were selected along with Lerch. For the Women, Olivia Miller from Tallahassee, Florida and Lauren Rocco from Port Orange, Florida were named.

This is the most award winners the Waves’ has had in a single season.

A student-athlete must have a 3.5 minimum grade point average, have participated in at least 50 percent of the season’s events and have at least a sophomore standing both academically and athletically, to be nominated.

For Lerch, this award follows his receiving WCC All-Academic honors for Cross Country from last fall.

Lerch was joined by ten other Waves on the WCC All-Academic Cross Country Team.

Four others from the Men’s Team selected were Flint, Hemphill, Nate Lannen from Southlake, Texas and Elias Spence from Shippensburg.

Lerch, Flint, Hemphill and Lannen were all selected for the second year in a row.

For the Women’s team, Miller was named along with Skylar Danley from Easton, Brooke Bakken from Norwalk, Wisconsin, CeCe Fleenor from Alexandria, Virginia, Megan LaCamera from Burbank, California and Elle Shrader from Boern, Texas.

This was Danley’s third year and Miller’s second year to be named.

To be considered for the honor, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA, have at least sophomore academic and athletic status, and be a significant contributor to the cross country squad.

In addition to the individual honors, the Pepperdine men’s and women’s cross country programs both earned U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association 2022 Division I All-Academic recognition, for last fall. This was the first USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for both programs.

The Wave’s men’s and women’s track squads were named USTFCCCA All-Academic for the 2021 season.

Congratulations to Nathaniel and all the other Waves who received these great honors!!!!

(Thank you to Pepperdine Athletics and the Lerch’s for the photos!!)