FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University cross country and track and field student-athlete Thomas Amabile has been named to the 2021 Academic All-America® Third Team, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.
 
Amabile, a rehabilitation science major with a 3.98 GPA, picks up the first Academic All-America® honor of his career. He is just the second Mason men's track and field/cross country selection in program history.

Of the 45 members on the Academic All-America® Division I men's track and field/cross country team, Amabile is one of two student-athletes from the Atlantic 10 to be selected.

"I couldn't be more pleased for Thomas - he's the epitome of a student-athlete," said head coach Andrew Gerard. "He's thrived in the classroom and on the track for us, is a tremendous leader for our squad and is a role model on how to have success in multiple arenas while challenging yourself academically and athletically. For him to be recognized by CoSIDA is awesome, but it's just part-and-parcel of who he is, and that is a very determined, focused, and dedicated student-athlete."
 
The Chesapeake, Va., native placed 20th at the 2020-21 Atlantic 10 Cross Country Championships (March 5). He ran a course-best time of 25:12.3 and was one of five top-20 finishers for the Patriots.

For his work in the classroom, he was named to the 2021 Atlantic 10 All-Academic Cross Country Team. He is a two-time Mason Provost Scholar Athlete and has been named to the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is the only Academic All-America designation recognized by the NCAA. For more information regarding the Academic All-America® program, visit https://academicallamerica.com/. 
 
All-Time George Mason University Academic All-Americans
1990 – Robert Bailey, Men's Volleyball (Second Team)
1992 – Jason Robertson, Men's Volleyball (Third Team)
1992 – Kimberly Saddic, Women's Track and Field (Second Team)
1996 – Keri Chaconas, Women's Basketball (Third Team)
2002 – Art Kulans, Men's Volleyball (Second Team)
2003 – Art Kulans, Men's Volleyball (First Team)
2005 – Chris Looze, Baseball (First Team)
2009 – Richard Edgar, Men's Soccer (First Team)
2016 – Jennifer Nakamura, Women's Track and Field (Third Team)
2017 – Tyler Zombro, Baseball (Third Team)
2017 – John Seals, Men's Track and Field (Third Team)
2017 – Emily Littell, Women's Soccer (Second Team)
2018 – Nicole Van Oort, Rowing (First Team)
2018 – Emily Littell, Women's Soccer (First Team)
2019 – John Seals, Men's Track and Field (Third Team)
2021 – Thomas Amabile, Men's Cross Country/Track and Field (Third Team)