RICHMOND, VA -- University of Delaware sophomore women’s cross country runner Julia Somers (at right) has earned a spot on the All-Colonial Athletic Association all-star squad based on her performance this past fall.

Somers was the lone Blue Hen student-athlete honored as the CAA men’s and women’s coaches selected their final season awards.

A sophomore from Haverford, PA (Haverford High School), Somers was Delaware’s top runner throughout the season for head coach Sue McGrath-Powell. She led the Blue Hens in six of the seven races in which she competed, including capturing the individual title at the Delaware Invitational #2 on Oct. 14 at White Clay Creek State Park.

Somers also placed fourth at the Hofstra Invitational, 10th at the CAA Championships, 13th at the ECAC Championships to earn All-East honors, 34th at the NCAA District 2 Regionals, and 34th at the Paul Short Invitational. Her 10th place finish at the CAA meet held at Delaware was an improvement of four spots from her 14th place finish as a freshman in 2005.

On the women’s side, James Madison senior Dena Spickard was named the 2006 CAA Athlete of the Year and was joined on the All-CAA team by teammate Christy Ward, William & Mary’s Meghan Bishop, Kaitlin Hurley, Emily Schroeder, Anna Brousell, Anna Parker, and Emily Gousen, Georgia State’s Rachel Hannan and Catilin Price, Hofstra’s Abby Pullen, and Delaware’s Somers.

Price was named Rookie of the Year while Georgia State head coach Jessica Raby was named CAA Coach of the Year.

On the men’s side, James Madison senior C.W. Moran was named the 2006 CAA Athlete of the Year and was joined on the All-CAA team by William & Mary’s Sean Anastasia-Murphy, Dave Mock, Anthony Arena, Jason Schoener, Dan Nally, James Picard, and Joel Parker, George Mason’s Charles Millioen, Georgia State’s Mark Steeds, and Virginia Commonwealth’s Cary Chaffee and Jay Wyss.

James Madison freshman Scott Tekesky was named CAA Rookie of the Year while William & Mary head coach Alex Gibby was selected as Coach of the Year.