Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

June 25, 2025 - The North Central College men's track and field and cross country programs have been recognized with five selections to the 2024-2025 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Teams, chosen by College Sports Communicators. The awards, which recognize combined academic and athletic excellence, are nominated and voted upon by the CSC membership, comprising more than 4,000 members from higher education institutions in the United States and Canada.

North Central's honorees are Ben Balboa, Matt Jett, Clark Kelly, Jacob Kluckhohn and BJ Sorg. To be eligible, nominees must have achieved at least sophomore athletic and academic standing, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.50, and finish in the top 50 at their regional cross country championship or be ranked in the top 50 in an individual track & field event indoors or outdoors.

Balboa, a health science major, won the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Indoor Championships in the shot put with a throw of 16.37m. He also took 11th place in the weight throw. In the outdoor conference championships, Balboa claimed the CCIW Title in the discus throw (47.07m) while taking third in the shot put (15.09m) and ninth in the hammer throw (49.63m).

Jett, a secondary education and social science/history double major, took second place at the 2024 CCIW Cross Country Championships before earning USTFCCCA All-Region and All-American honors. In the CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Jett won the 10,000-meter run with a time of 30:28.19. He is now a two-time CSC Academic All-District Selection.

Kluckhohn, an exercise science major, earned First Team All-CCIW honors with a 10th-place finish at the 2024 CCIW Cross Country Championships, where he ran a season-best 24:48.11. He was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team before competing at the 2024 NCAA Division III National Championships.

Kelly, who is pursuing his master's in sports leadership, finished in fifth place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and seventh place at the CCIW Championships for the 5,000-meter run (15:21.11)

Sorg, an environmental science major, began the athletic season with a third-place finish at the CCIW Cross Country Championships (24:14.53) before earning All-Region honors. At the CCIW Indoor Championships, Sorg took third place in the 3,000-meter run (8:28.63). This spring, he claimed third place at the outdoor 5,000-meter run (14:51.03) before capturing All-American honors at nationals with a 12th-place finish in the 10,000-meter run (30:17.57).

Sorg and Jett advance to the Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on July 16 at 11 a.m.

Download the free North Central Cardinals app, available for iOS and Android devices, to receive up-to-the-minute news, scores, and updates on your favorite North Central teams. Click HERE for more information.