June 5, 2008

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Laura Mickelson was rewarded for her efforts in the classroom, as well as her work in athletic competition, after being named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District 8 track and cross country first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) on Thursday.

In addition to the All-District selection, Mickelson was awarded a NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship and named to the USTFCCCA All-Academic team after the cross country season. Mickelson, who graduated with a degree in natural science after posting a 3.95 GPA earlier this year, was the only athlete from the WCC to receive the grant.

Mickelson, who earned her second All-West Coast Conference Academic selection in cross country, finished 61st at the NCAA National Championship, 15th at the West Regional to claim an All-Region selection and second at the WCC Championship this year.

Mickelson and the LMU men's and women's track teams are no strangers to academic awards, garnering USTFCCCA All-Academic team selections earlier this year. On the track in 2008, the El Segundo, Calif. native turned in times of 4:49.79 in the 1,500 meters, a team-best 9:58.93 in the 3,000 meters, 10:44.9 in the two-mile race, 35:33.69 in the 10,000 meters, and 16:58.96 in the 5,000 meters in her final race at Georgia Tech on May 16.

As a first team All-District selection, Mickelson advances on to the national academic All-America ballot, which will be announced on June 25.