Minnesota sophomore Chris Rombough was selected as the Big Ten Conference Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year, the Big Ten office announced today. The conference postseason honors are determined by a vote of the Big Ten cross country coaches.

Rombough, a Fremont, Wis., native, is the first Golden Gopher to earn the honor, which has been awarded since 1987. Rombough captured the individual Big Ten title last weekend at Indiana covering the 8-kilometer course in a time of 24 minutes, 5 seconds. He is the first Gopher to win medalist honors since 1971.

The conference office also announced the honorees from each of the 21 cross country squads for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting.

The Minnesota recipients were junior Ladia Albertson-Junkans and senior David VanOrsdel.