Wertner named Northeast Conference scholar athlete

Tim Wertner, a Greencastle-Antrim High School graduate, was named the recipient of the 2009 Northeast Conference Men's Cross Country Scholar Athlete Award.

Wertner, a junior on the Red Flash men's cross country and track and field teams, is a  two-time All-NEC honoree. He finished third at the 2009 NEC Championship races with a time of 26:22, helping the Red Flash to a third-place finish at the meet.  The Physical Therapy major from Chambersburg maintains a 3.58 grade point average and is a four-time member of the NEC Academic Honor Roll.

 “[Wertner] getting this scholar-athlete award really shows that he has taken advantage of his time at Saint Francis,” said Red Flash head coach Gordon Thomson.  “He is truly a fine academic and a fine athlete.”

“It's pretty neat for me as a first-year coach at Saint Francis to have a great student-athlete like [Wertner] fall in my lap,” said Thomson.  “I'm very excited for Tim.”

Wertner was named Road Runner Sports NEC Cross Country Athlete of the Week on Oct. 6 after a third place showing at the competitive Paul Short Invitational hosted by Lehigh University.  Wertner finished third overall at the race and was the first NEC harrier to cross the line in the field of 332. Wertner, who improved on his seventh place performance at the NEC meet in 2008, also competes on the Red Flash track team, and earned fifth place finishes last year in the indoor 5K, outdoor 5K and outdoor 10K races.

Wertner has yet to run an indoor meet this season, being sidelined with a heel injury, however he is hoping to compete soon.