Oklahoma Christian University distance runner Kenneth Bowling has been named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Third Team in the Track and Field/Cross Country College Division.
The honorees, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), represent nominees from all of the NAIA, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III. Bowling became eligible for the national recognition after his selection to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI team.
A two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete in track and cross country, Bowling is a mathematics education major and carries a 3.57 grade point average.
A four-time NAIA All-American, the 22-year-old Bowling has placed in three NAIA national cross country championships, 25th in 2003, 28th in 2004 and 31st in 2005. He placed fourth in the 5,000 meters at the 2005 NAIA National Outdoor Track Championships in a personal-record time of 14:56.66.
During the spring 2006 season, Bowling won three of five 5,000-meter competitions and was ninth in the NAIA National Championships in 15:09.62.
A 2002 graduate of Republic High School (Mo.), he is married to the former Audra Robinson of Republic and is the son of Tim and Jan Bowling of Brookline, Mo.