Elizabeth Phillips Selected as NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award Winner for 2013

NCAA TODAY'S TOP-10

Indianapolis, Ind., November 1, 2012 — 2012 NCAA Woman of the Year recipient and Washington University in St. Louis alumna Elizabeth Phillips has been selected as an NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award winner, as announced Thursday by the organization.

The NCAA Today’s Top 10 Award recognizes student-athletes who completed their athletics eligibility during the 2011-12 academic year for their success on the fields and courts, in the classroom, and in the community. Award recipients will be recognized at the Honors Celebration on Jan. 18 during the NCAA Convention in Grapevine, Texas.

Phillips is one of two student-athletes chosen from Division III, and will be honored alongside Nick Amuchastegui (Stanford, wrestling), Miles Batty (Brigham Young, cross country, indoor & outdoor track and field), Ashley Brignac (Louisiana-Lafayette, softball), Micah Davis (Delta State, football), Robert Griffin III (Baylor, football), Stacey Hagensen (Pacific Lutheran, softball), Lindsay Lettow (Central Missouri, indoor & outdoor track and field), Brooke Pancake (Alabama, golf), and Wendy Trott (Georgia, swimming and diving).

Phillips, who graduated in May with a degree in biomedical engineering and a 4.0 GPA, completed her career as one of the most decorated student-athletes in school history. She became the first-ever three-time NCAA Elite 88/89 Award winner in any NCAA division. In 2012, Phillips was named the Capital One Academic All-America of the Year Division III award winner for women’s track & field/cross country, making her the first track & field/cross country Academic All-America of the Year winner in Washington U. history. She also earned first-team Academic All-America honors in 2011 and 2012.

A seven-time indoor and outdoor track & field All-American, Phillips ranks in the top-three in Washington University history in five different indoor and outdoor events, including holding the outdoor 1,500 school record. She was the team captain and finished 40th individually to help Washington U. capture its first NCAA Division III National Championship in women’s cross country in 2011.

During her final track & field season, Phillips earned All-America honors with a third-place finish in the mile and as a member of the national runner-up distance medley relay team at the 2012 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. She then capped her stellar career by finishing sixth in the 1,500 to earn All-America honors at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

As a community leader, Phillips dedicated numerous hours to volunteer activities, serving as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), a coach for Girls on the Run, and secretary and vice president for the Society of Women Engineers.

Phillips is in her first year of medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, and serving as a volunteer assistant cross country coach at Penn.

Previously, the award recognized eight student-athletes and was known as Today’s Top VIII. The NCAA Honors Committee expanded the award to honor 10 student-athletes to recognize the increased number of student-athletes, sports and championship opportunities.