NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The Yale men's cross country team has earned the USTFCCCA's All-Academic Team award for 2025, posting a 3.69 cumulative GPA. This was the second-best GPA for the Bulldogs in the 21 seasons of available records for this award program. The Bulldogs tied for the 10th best GPA in the nation this year (second among Ivy League teams).
 
Additionally, senior Owen Karas (Columbus, Ohio) and senior Kenan Pala (San Diego, Calif.) were honored individually as USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes. The USTFCCCA announced the awards Thursday. For both Bulldogs, it was their second year in a row earning the award.
 
Karas, a psychology major, earned Yale's John Cleary '54, Mike Stanley '54 Award as team MVP this past season. He competed in the NCAA Championships, earning his spot there with an 11th place finish (29:27.2) at NCAA Regionals. He received All-Region recognition again for finishing in the top 25. 
 
Karas was Yale's top finisher in every race he ran this year. His third-place finish at Heps earned him All-Ivy League honors. He also was an Academic All-Ivy League selection.
 
Karas is a graduate of St. Charles Preparatory School.
 
Pala, an economics major, earned Yale's Coaches' Award. He joined Karas in earning a spot at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. He was Yale's second finisher at NCAA Regionals (12th, 29:31.1), earning All-Region recognition for the second year in a row – he finished 25th at Regionals in 2024. He was Yale's second finisher in every race he ran this year.
 
Pala is a graduate of Francis Parker School.
 
The All-Academic Team award is given annually to teams with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. To qualify for individual All-Academic distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top 25 (or top 10 percent) at the NCAA Regional Championships or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships.