SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Southern Conference today named Elon men’s cross country runner John Tumbleston as the TIAA-CREF Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for the week of September 14.

Tumbleston, a senior from Boone, N.C., led the Phoenix cross country team to a third-place finish overall at the UNC Wilmington Seahawk Cross Country Invitational on Friday, September 9. Tumbleston finished the meet in seventh place overall in a field of 68 runners with a time of 19:33.84 on the 6K course.

In the classroom, Tumbleston (pictured right) is a double major in science education and physics and boasts a 3.99 grade point average.

A 2005 ESPN The Magazine All-America University Division I Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country member, Tumbleston is a two-time TIAA-CREF Academic All-SoCon member and has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Delta (International Studies), Pi Gamma Mu (Social Sciences), Chi Alpha Sigma (Athletics) and Phi Eta Sigma national honor societies. Tumbleston was named Elon’s 2004-05 A.L. Hook Scholar-Athlete of the Year last spring.

For over 85 years, TIAA-CREF has been helping millions of people working in the academic, medical and cultural fields plan for their retirement. TIAA-Cref's clear and long-held commitment to serve those who dedicate themselves to the benefit and enlightenment of others remains unchanged.

With a non-profit heritage, TIAA-CREF has long subscribed to a different set of guiding principles. Principles directly influenced by the people they serve. With over $310 billion in combined assets as of June 30, 2004, their approach to investing goes beyond sound portfolio management. TIAA-CREF is mindful of their social responsibilities. And they stay focused on the best interests of our participants. Visit TIAA-CREF.org or call 800 842-2776.

–ELON-