June 28, 2007

Lee Garners ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® Honors

    PITTSBURG -- Pittsburg State University junior middle distance runner Venessa Lee earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors today (June 28) when the college division women’s cross country/track & field squad was released.
    Lee was named to the first-team Academic All-America squad. The Cleveland, Mo., native has a 3.878 GPA as a dual biology/Spanish major.
    She captured NCAA Division II National Championships in the 800 meters in both the indoor and outdoor seasons this spring. Lee also garnered six MIAA crowns in track & field and helped the Pitt State cross country team qualify to the NCAA-II National Championships last fall. She finished as the runner-up in balloting for the MIAA’s Ken B. Jones Award as the conference female student-athlete of the year.
    Lee becomes the 40th Pitt State student-athlete to earn ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors since the Spring 2000 semester. Pitt State ranks second among the Division II membership in Academic All-America® placement this decade, trailing MIAA rival Truman State University (41) by one honoree.
    Pittsburg State has 84 all-time Academic All-America® honorees. The Gorilla women’s cross country/track & field team has produced 16 of PSU’s all-time honorees, including eight recipients this decade.
    Student-athletes must meet four criteria to earn Academic All-America® honors: 1) must have a cumulative GPA of 3.20 or better, 2) must have at least two terms of attendance at the institution, 3) must be at least a sophomore in athletic eligibility, 4) must be a starter or key reserve in their respective sport.
    This is the third year that ESPN The Magazine has served as title sponsor for the national Academic All-America® program, which is administered by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).