Acosta Added to All-America List in 1,500

NEW ORLEANS, La. – A.J. Acosta was added to Oregon’s list of 2008 All-Americans, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday.

Acosta, a sophomore from Oceanside, Calif., was honored for his ninth place finish in the finals of the men’s 1,500 meters. He ran 3:43.95 Saturday at the 2008 NCAA Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

The USTFCCCA awards All-America status to the top eight finishers in each event, and that list is extended to include the top eight Americans, if any foreign-born competitors place in the top eight.

It was discovered Monday that 1,500 meter champion Leo Manzano of Texas was incorrectly listed as being born in the United States.

“Leo Manzano was listed as American-born,” said USTFCCCA Communications manager Keith Nunez. “He was in fact born in Mexico. Therefore, we had to add another American to the list and Acosta was the ninth finisher.”

This is Acosta’s third career All-America certificate, and first for outdoor track. He owns two indoor mile All-America awards. He is the first Duck to All-America in the 1,500 meters since Steve Fein in 2000.

The 11 combined men’s and women’s All-America honors collected by the Ducks at the 2008 meet were the most produced at the outdoor championships since the 1991 teams garnered 11 (eight men, three women). All but one of Oregon’s 2008 All-America awards -- senior Colin Veldman in the men’s hammer -- was won by an underclassman.