RICHMOND, Va. -- Chris Bourke, who led the University of Delaware men’s cross country team throughout the 2009 season, has been named first team All-Colonial Athletic Association in a vote of the league head coaches.

Bourke (at right), a senior from Media, Pa. (Strath-Haven High School), was one of 24 men and women student-athletes honored as All-CAA performers based on their performances throughout the fall.

The honor was the second major award earned by Bourke this fall after being selected to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Mid-Atlantic Region team in November.

Bourke, an exercise science major, completed an outstanding season in which he led the Blue Hens in five of the six races that he competed in and posted five top 20 finishes during the year, including a first place finish at the Delaware Invitational in September.

He earlier this year placed fifth place at the CAA Championships on Oct. 31 at James Madison and earned All-East recognition for a 16th place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships at Princess Anne., Md. on Nov. 14, just missing a berth into the NCAA Championships. He finished the season with a 19th place showing at the IC4A Championships in New York this past Saturday.

In addition, he also placed ninth at the Delaware Blue & Gold Invitational and 47th at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh earlier this season.

A four-year letterwinner and 2009 team co-captain, Bourke led the Blue Hens in nine races during his career and registered 16 top 20 finishes during he tenure.

He showed remarkable improvement through his career, improving from a 143rd place finish at the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Championships as a freshman in 2006 to a 126th place finish in 2007, a 68th place showing in 2008, and a 16th place finish this season.

Bourke was joined on the men’s team by Walid Berkhedle of Virginia Commonwealth, Everett Hackett, Sam Horn, and Scott Tekesky of George Mason, Loris Hutterli of Georgia State, and Jon Grey, Ben Massam, Harry Miller, Brian Sklodowski, Charlie Swartz, Chris Tyson, and Max Werner of William & Mary. Grey was named CAA Athlete of the Year while Zach Gates of William & Mary and Alex Zyryanov of George Mason shared CAA Rookie of the Year laurels. William & Mary head coach Alex Gibby was named Coach of the Year.

The women’s All-CAA team included Emily Anderson, Meghan Burns, Kayley Byrne, Darcy McDonald, and Kelly McElroy of William & Mary, Janel Blancett of Georgia State, Katie Gorman, Katie Harman, Stacey Nobles, and Alison Paris of James Madison, and Rochelle Sceats and Laura Sinclair of George Mason. Anderson was named Athlete of the Year, Nobles was named Rookie of the Year, and William & Mary head coach Kathy Newberry earned Coach of the Year honors.