TicketsFeb. 26, 2008
CINCINNATI -- University of Cincinnati cross country standout Lilian Jelimo (Kapsabet, Kenya/Kapsabet Girls) has been named to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic team for the 2007 season.
"The All-Academic award defines the ultimate in a student-athlete," said head coach Bill Schnier. "It carries a requirement for both academics and athletics, applauding the complete student-athlete. Lilian Jelimo has done hard work in both areas and is extremely deserving of this honor."
A USTFCCCA all-region selection, Jelimo was UC's top finisher at the 2007 Great Lakes Regional Championships, placing 14th in 21:29.53. She was just five spots and 14 seconds from advancing to the NCAA Championships, helping the Bearcats to their best-ever regional finish - sixth place out of 30 teams. The squad was ranked 13th going into the meet.
Jelimo holds a 3.48 GPA as a nursing major and has recently starred for the indoor track and field team, finishing fourth in the 5,000 meters at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships. Set school records in the 3,000 and 5,000 meters this season and met the provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor Championships next month.
A total of 91 female student-athletes representing 62 NCAA Division I institutions were named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team. Four student-athletes finished in the Top 10 at the national meet.
Stanford had the most student-athletes on the team with four. Florida State, Michigan State, Northern Arizona, Colorado and Virginia Tech each had three student-athletes on the team.
The award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average and have completed a minimum 24 semester hours through the 2007 fall term. Additionally, the student-athlete must finish in the top 15 runners or top 10 percent of finishers at their respective NCAA regional meet, or receive all-American honors.